Mark Young began playing piano and guitar at age ten, and by twelve was playing in
local pop and rock bands in Columbus, Georgia. At seventeen Mark's musical interest
moved towards jazz. He formed his own trio and was performing local gigs at Historic
Bleudau's Goetchius House Restaurant, Columbus Country Club, Fort Benning Officers
Club, Muldoons Restaurant & Bar, Peachtree Pub, and private functions in the Columbus
area.
After graduating Columbus High School, Mark majored in music performance and
composition at Columbus State University gaining valuable experience playing piano and
guitar in the CSU Big Band under the direction of Paul Vandergheynst.
In 1981 Mark left Columbus for Boston's Berklee College of Music to further his
knowledge of jazz, popular music, and the business skills needed to make a career in the
field. Upon returning home, Mark took jobs in the radio and television industry
(WEIZ Radio, WRBL and WLTZ Television), while playing solo and trio gigs in the
Columbus area.
In 1988 Mark moved to Atlanta, Georgia to work at Turner Broadcasting System for
the next ten years while playing gigs with Cooper Tisdale, Charlie Williams, Larry
Griffith, Mark Bynum, Bill Miller, Johnnie Eason, Gary Land, and many Atlanta jazz,
pop, and fusion artists. Atlanta venues include Piedmont Park Arts and Dogwood
Festivals, Ray's on the River, Sambuca Jazz Cafe, Variety Playhouse, The Brandy
House, The Georgjan Club, The Standard Club, Lickskillet Farm Restaurant, The Martini
Club, The Star Bar, Killer Creek Restaurant, St. Ives Country Club, Marietta Country
Club, Brookfield Country Club, The Moon Bean Coffee House, weddings, rehearsal
dinners, private parties, and social gatherings.
In 1999 Mark left Turner Broadcasting System to become a full time musician
traveling the south eastern United States with the eight piece Howard Shaft Jazz/Funk
Ensemble, playing cities such as New Orleans, Orlando, Tallahassee, Birmingham,
Nashville, and Memphis. Mark then traveled with the Johnnie Eason Quartet to Tokyo,
Japan for a six week engagement at the Tokyo Dome Hotel. Mark is currently active in
the Atlanta area, playing solo piano, as well as trio jazz dates.
In 2002, Mark moved to Pine Mountain Valley (Harris County Georgia), getting back
to the land, and is now seeking musical work in the Columbus, Georgia area. Let Mark
add musical elegance and sophistication to your special event.
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