Mark "The Loveman" Pender (born August 21, 1957, in
Kansas City,
Missouri) is a
trumpet player and vocalist who has played with
Southside Johnny,
Little Steven and
Bruce Springsteen. Since 1993 he has performed on ''
Late Night with Conan O'Brien'' and ''
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien'' as a member of
The Max Weinberg 7 and The Tonight Show Band.
He formerly performed on ''
Conan'' as a member of the
Basic Cable Band from 2010 to 2018. He is a member of
The Miami Horns, leads his own band, The Mark Pender Band, and plays regularly with La Bamba & The Hubcaps.
As a member of
The Miami Horns he has toured and/or recorded with, among others
Diana Ross
Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...
,
Gary U.S. Bonds,
Joe Cocker,
Darlene Love,
Robert Cray and
Bon Jovi. As an individual he has sessioned with
David Bowie,
They Might Be Giants,
Buster Poindexter and
Blackmore's Night.
History
Mark Pender graduated in 1975 from Grandview Senior High School in
Grandview, Missouri. In the mid-1970s, while still in
Kansas City, Pender played with Mass Transit and saxophonist Stephen Harvey. This band played a fusion of
R&B,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
and
disco. He also played with the Inner City Orchestra from 1977 until 1979. This gave him the opportunity to play with the likes of
Jay McShann,
Joe Turner,
Ella Fitzgerald and
Gladys Knight & the Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American Rhythm and blues, R&B, soul music, soul, and funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades starting from the early ...
. He would also occasionally front the band on trumpet and vocals. Pender and Harvey also played regularly at the
Mutual Musicians Foundation. It was there they first met the jazz organist
Charles Earland. In 1979, Pender and Harvey accepted Earlands offer to join his touring band. The tour finished in
Newark, New Jersey
Newark ( , ) is the List of municipalities in New Jersey, most populous City (New Jersey), city in the U.S. state of New Jersey, the county seat of Essex County, New Jersey, Essex County, and a principal city of the New York metropolitan area. ...
. Pender opted to stay while Harvey returned to Kansas City where he was murdered on November 5, 1980.
Once in New Jersey, Pender linked up with
The Miami Horns and toured with
Diana Ross
Diana Ross (born Diane Ernestine Earle Ross March 26, 1944) is an American singer and actress. Known as the "Queen of Motown Records", she was the lead singer of the vocal group the Supremes, who became Motown#Major divisions, Motown's most suc ...
between 1980 and 1981. He was invited to join
Little Steven & The Disciples Of Soul and while on tour with them in Paris, he met his current wife Francoise while still married to Connie his first wife whom he married in Ft. Lee, NJ. Connie and Mark were married from 1982 - 1992. It was
Little Steven who nicknamed him ''The Love Man''. He subsequently became a member of
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes and led The Jukes' Horns on the albums ''Trash It Up'', ''In The Heat'' and ''At Least We Got Shoes''. In 1988, as part of the group The Tunnel Of Love Horns, he went on tour with
Bruce Springsteen. Pender continues to record with both
Southside Johnny and Springsteen and featured on the latter's 2005 album ''
Devils & Dust''. He also played in the halftime show for NFL's
Super Bowl XLIII.
Pender also continues to play regularly with La Bamba & The Hubcaps, led by friend Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg. This band recorded an eponymous album in 1991 which gave Pender the chance to showcase his skills as a lead vocalist. He also linked up
Max Weinberg in the band Killer Joe. This band recorded one album, ''Scene Of The Crime'', which featured Pender playing trumpet and singing lead vocal on a rousing rendition of "Chicken Shack Boogie." He also fronts The Mark Pender Band, playing a blend of R&B, jazz and funk, a reflection of his Kansas City roots. This band has featured both Rosenberg and Harrison in its line-up. In 2003, Pender independently released an eponymous CD/DVD package featuring live and studio recordings. Pender currently tours with They Might Be Giants.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pender, Mark
1957 births
Living people
The Max Weinberg 7 members
American trumpeters
American male trumpeters
American male singers
Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes members
Jersey Shore musicians
Singers from New Jersey
Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band members
The Tonight Show Band members
The Miami Horns members
The Sessions Band members