BIOGRAPHY

 Mark T. Small was hooked on the blues at the age of 12 and knew  that music was his path for life. From that age forward, he became a student of the blues, listening to such greats as Lightnin' Hopkins, Fred McDowell, John Lee Hooker , Muddy Waters and many others. Careful study allowed him to learn the styles of the masters and later transform their styles into his own unique brand of music.

 An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist, Mark traveled with a variety of band types that ranged from bluegrass to Chicago style blues. Cutting his first record with The Brown County Band in Indiana (1981), Mark quickly learned to play traditionally while at the same time exhibiting showmanship to grab the attention of the audience. His blazing guitar techniques allowed him to mix right in with the newgrass crowd. Although his licks always had a traditional flavor, they showcased the "razors edge" feel that Mark developed from years of listening to both Delta and Chicago style blues.

 In the late 80s, Mark started his Chicago style blues band, The Lonesome Strangers. The band was a staple on the New England club circut for over a dozen years. The band worked all of the clubs due to Mark's ability to transform the band to adapt to any venue. Many of the gigs were played as a "power trio" with Mark singing and filling the band out with scorching electric blues guitar. Other times, the band included a keyboard player and / or, the addition of The Newport Navy Band horn section. The band ranged anywhere from 3 to 10 pieces on a given night, Regardless of the situation, Mark managed the band, the crowd, and all aspects of the gig, making sure that the crowd and the club owner received more than their moneys worth for the night. Showmanship, taste, professionalism and great music were the adjectives that club owners cited over and over as reasons to book the band in a regular rotation.

 In the 1990s, Mark's quest for success included the desire to develop a greater understanding of the "business end" of the music business. Through hard work and determination he acquired  a Masters Degree in Business Administration fron Bryant College in Smithfield, Rhode Island. In 2000, Mark began to gravitate back to his acoustic roots and the studio became his classroom. After making a decision to pursue a solo career, Mark took all of the lessons he had learned over the last 25 years and began constructing his solo show. The premise was to develop an act that was as hard hitting as the band, but all in a one man show. That show includes many great traditional delta blues numbers with a Chicago blues slant that transforms each tune into a "tour de force". Included are the blazing flatpicking techniques that grabbed audiences in Mark's bluegrass days, the hot slide guitar playing that creates a mood and tambre change in each set, and the showmanship that was developed from years of experience as a band "front man". These components combined with the sense of a sharp businessman who possessses a keen understanding of the venue goals and objectives, assures a happy client regardless of the situation.