Mark Fosson
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Mark Fosson is an American singer-songwriter and American Primitive guitarist who grew up in Kentucky, where he began writing songs while he was still in his early teens. In the late 1970s he sent some song demos to John Fahey's West Coast-based Takoma Records, and Fahey, impressed with what he heard, offered Fosson a recording deal. Fosson lost no time in relocating to Los Angeles and began recording, but as bad luck would have it, Takoma was in some difficulty, and the label soon folded. Fahey allowed Fosson to retain the master tapes of the sessions, however.[1]
Now located on the West Coast, Fosson met fellow songwriter Edward Tree, and the two began working together, forming the Bum Steers, a country-tinged group, in the late 1980s, eventually being invited to play the Grand Ol' Opry at the request of Porter Wagoner. Fosson's material appeared on several soundtracks through the 1990s.
In 2001 he began collaborating with singer-songwriter Lisa O'Kane, who recorded several of his songs, including the No. 1 European single "Little Black Cloud" and Fosson also began recording a solo project, Jesus on a Greyhound, which was released on New Light Entertainment/Universal. The record drew positive reviews and Fosson was frequently compared to Americana music artists such as Ramblin' Jack Elliot, Joe Ely, John Prine and Guy Clark. The Fahey material finally saw the light of day as The Lost Takoma Sessions from Drag City Records in 2006. His song "Another Fine Day" was included on Volume 3 of the Imaginational Anthem acoustic guitar compilation from Tompkins Square Records.
On June 26, 2012, Tompkins Square released Digging In The Dust, a collection of early home recordings which led to Fosson's signing to Takoma Records.
In May 2015 he released kY, a collection of instrumentals inspired by his time growing up in Kentucky and in July 2017 his newest album, Solo Guitar was released on Drag City Records.
Discography
- The Bum Steers - Western Beat Records, 1995
- Live At Cafe Voltaire - The Bum Steers - Voltaire Records, 1996
- The Lost Takoma Sessions - Drag City Records, 2006
- Jesus On A Greyhound - Big Otis Records, 2007
- Imaginational Anthem Volume 3 - Tompkins Square Records, 2008
- Hillbilly Hucklebuck - The Bum Steers - Western Beat Records, 2008
- Digging In The Dust - Tompkins Square Records, 2012
- kY - Big Otis Records, 2015
- Solo Guitar - Drag City Records, 2017
References
- ^ Baron, Zach. "The Lost Takoma Sessions". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved April 4, 2010.
External links
- Margasak, Peter. "Kentucky fingerstyle guitar master Mark Fosson stays connected to his American Primitive roots". Chicagoreader.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "Mark Fosson—Solo Guitar (Drag City)". Dustedmagazine.tumblr.com. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "kY, by Mark Fosson". Mark Fosson. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "The Bum Steers". The Bum Steers. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "Mark Fosson – kY". Ironpostblog.com. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- "Mark Fosson – kY". Wajobu.com. 5 August 2015. Retrieved 9 November 2017.
- Americana musicians
- American country singer-songwriters
- Fingerstyle guitarists
- American folk guitarists
- American male guitarists
- Living people
- Musicians from Ashland, Kentucky
- Musicians from Appalachia
- Country musicians from Kentucky
- Singers from Kentucky
- Songwriters from Kentucky
- Folk musicians from Kentucky
- Guitarists from Kentucky