My Profile

Mark Strickland is an American guitarist influenced by Wes Montgomery, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass and Jazz and R&B legends. Mark began playing in 1963 in Pittsburgh, PA, mentored by the regional R&B and Jazz greats such as Luther Dejarunett (performed with Jimmy McGriff, Groove Holmes), Pete Henderson (performed with Stanley Turrentine, Ahmad Jamal), J. Spencer Bey (performed with Sonny Stitt) and the many others who performed in the renowned Jazz clubs of the region such as the Crawford Grill, the Hurricane, the Loendi and the Roosevelt Theatre. Some of the many singers and musicians that Mark has performed with over the years include Grady Tate, Groove Holmes, Michelle Benson, John Heard and Gene Ludwig. Also an accomplished sound engineer, Mark has produced and/or engineered projects for musicians both regionally and nationally, including Dizzy Gillespie, Dakota Staton, Tommy Flanagan, and Jimmy Smith. Currently, Mark maintains a full-time performance schedule as a Jazz guitarist, playing in Jazz Clubs, festivals, universities and theatres, and also is a dedicated music educator with a private guitar studio for motivated students.