Stan Mark was an American trumpet player. Mark started his playing career in 1963 with the

United States Navy Band The United States Navy Band, based at the Washington Navy Yard in Washington, D.C., has served as the official musical organization of the U.S. Navy since 1925. The U.S. Navy Band serves the ceremonial needs at the seat of government, performi ...

in Washington D.C. and later played lead trumpet with the band's

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, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a majo ...

ensemble,

The Commodores Commodores are an American funk and soul band, which were at their peak in the late 1970s through the mid 1980s. The members of the group met as mostly freshmen at Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in 1968, and signed with Motown in ...

, from 1967 to 1970. In 1973 Mark joined the trumpet section of

Maynard Ferguson Walter Maynard Ferguson CM (May 4, 1928 – August 23, 2006) was a Canadian jazz trumpeter and bandleader. He came to prominence in Stan Kenton's orchestra before forming his own big band in 1957. He was noted for his bands, which often serv ...

's rock-influenced big band and was promoted to lead trumpet within a few months. Mark was visible within the band by his distinctive

afro The afro is a hair type created by natural growth of Afro-textured hair, kinky hair, or specifically styled with chemical curling products by individuals with naturally Hair#Curly hair, curly or Hair#Classification systems, straight hair.Gar ...

hairstyle and black trumpet. Despite constant personnel changes, Mark remained a fixture with the band until he was fired in 1982, although he maintained a cordial relationship with Ferguson until Ferguson's death in 2006. Following his departure from the Ferguson band in 1982, Mark began leading a big band of his own in Orlando, recording the album ''Here's Stan Mark'' on the

Progressive Records Progressive Records is an American jazz record company and label owned by the Jazzology group. It produces reissues and compilations of musicians such as Sonny Stitt, Eddie Barefield, George Masso, and Eddie Miller. History Progressive Records ...

label. The band backed numerous singers and appeared on tour as the

Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle Jr. (June 1, 1921 – October 6, 1985) was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid-1980s. He worked with many world-famous vocalists at Capitol Reco ...

Orchestra and the

Jimmy Dorsey James Francis Dorsey (February 29, 1904 – June 12, 1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer and big band leader. He recorded and composed the jazz and pop standards " I'm Glad There Is You (In This World of Ordinary Peo ...

Orchestra. Mark taught and performed in clinics in high schools and Universities around the world. In early 1993 Stan began touring the United States as lead trumpet player with the

Glenn Miller Orchestra Glenn Miller and His Orchestra was an American swing dance band formed by Glenn Miller in 1938. Arranged around a clarinet and tenor saxophone playing melody, and three other saxophones playing harmony, the band became the most popular and c ...

. Mark also played lead trumpet with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band/Gold Coast Orchestra from 1993 to 1996. While in Las Vegas, Mark led a Swing Band, the Sin City SuitZ. In 2002, Mark relocated from Las Vegas to the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon, leading both a big band and a smaller group called the Rogue Valley SuitZ. Mark largely retired from the music business in 2005, although he did perform as a soloist and ensemble member at Maynard Ferguson's memorial service in St. Louis, MO on September 20, 2006. Stan passed away in December 2022

Discography

* 1970: ''Presents the Commodores'' (with the United States Navy Band)

With Maynard Ferguson

* 1974: '' Chameleon'' (with Maynard Ferguson)

Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...

* 1975: ''

Primal Scream Primal Scream are a Scottish rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie (vocals) and Jim Beattie. The band's current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes (guitar), Simone Butler (bass), and Darrin Mooney (drum ...

'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1976: '' Conquistador'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1977: '' New Vintage'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1978: ''

Carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival ...

'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1979: ''Hot'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1980: ''It's My Time'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1981: ''Hollywood'' (with Maynard Ferguson) * 1982: ''Storm'' (with Maynard Ferguson)

Stan Mark as bandleader

* 1983: ''Here's Stan Mark and his Big Band'' * 1987: ''The Joint is Jumpin' '' (Stan Mark and his River City StomperZ) * 1991: ''Jubilee'' (Stan Mark and his River City StomperZ) * 1992: ''Welcome Aboard'' (Stan Mark and his River City StomperZ) * 1994: ''Collector's Edition'' (with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band) * 1995: ''Reflections'' (with the Sorta Dixie Jazz Band) * 1997: ''Rock This Town!'' (Stan Mark and his Hot HornZ) * 1997: ''The Best of Stan Mark'' (Stan Mark and his Hot HornZ) * 1999: ''These SuitZ Can Swing!'' (Stan Mark and his Sin Sity SuitZ) * 1999: ''Remembering Harry'' (Stan Mark Big Band) * 2001: ''Still Swinging!'' (Stan Mark and his Sin Sity SuitZ) * 2003: ''The Next Generation'' (Stan Mark and his Rogue Valley SuitZ)

References

External links

StanMarkMusic.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mark, Stan American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters Living people 21st-century trumpeters 21st-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians Year of birth missing (living people)