About the Musician

Mark Tankersley

It has taken me a month to be able to update Mark's page.  Mark lost his battle with Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer on September 5, 2010.  What you read below is in Mark's own words.  Rest peacefully, my love - I miss you!

Hello!  Thank you for taking the time to stop by and visit my page.

I grew up all over the world, from Texas to California to Indonesia and just about everywhere in between!  My first vocal performance was in Indonesia at the age of 12.  From that point on I knew that music was in my blood.  After high school and 4 years of active duty in the Coast Guard, I went to college in Southern California for the sole purpose of studying music.

I wanted to learn as much as I could as fast as I could to get out into the music world.  I studied theory, harmonization, history, vocalization -- you name it, I studied it.  I was able to study voice under such names as Sarah McFerrin (Bobby's mother), and Sheldon Disrud.  I was also able to study recording studio theory and technique in a (then) state-of-the-art 32-track analog recording studio.

In September 2009 I was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. After enduring 2 months of chemotherapy & radiation, and three surgical procedures my cancer had not been suppressed. In fact, it had spread. Now, in July 2010, I will be undergoing another round of chemotherapy.

And for the music:

Originally self-taught on guitar from music books -- such as Eagles, Beatles, Jim Croce, Chicago (have I given away my age yet???) -- then seeing Sammy Hagar live in Corpus Christi, TX, in 1975, I was hooked!  I wanted to rock!  I then learned to play the drums in high school, and got pretty good.  My first "real" guitar was an early '70's Les Paul cherry sunburst with beautiful inlays and to this day still prefer a Les Paul to any other guitar.

My roots are deep into classic rock, inspired by bands like Van Halen (Sammy Hagar was the best thing that ever happened to them!), Bad Company, Journey, Triumph, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Led Zeppelin,  Foreigner, Scorpions, etc.

I was a member of several bands in L.A. area during the 1980's and loved the performance scene.

After way too many years of being a working stiff in the software industry, in the late 1990's I rekindled the love for performing and again joined a band (No Man's Land) in Northern California.  After No Man's Land I joined "Painful Gravy", with another former member of No Man's Land and good friend Tracy Fey.  We did a few gigs and the music was very tight.  For several reasons, June and I then pulled up stakes and moved to New England.

I spent nearly two years as a full-time guitar and drum instructor at the Carver School of Music.  To my students at the school:  I  miss you all greatly!   I absolutely love teaching and am still giving private lessons.

I am privileged to have played with some truly great musicians over the years. Recently, I was honored to get to know Shaun Hague (toured with the Kenny Wayne Sheppard Band) during an all night jam session. Not only is he a level headed all-around great guy, but what an awesome guitarist! Look out for this kid!  Shaun was also a former instructor at the Carver School of Music.

Having played guitar and drums for so long, and having set up and operated sound systems (both large and small) for various bands when I wasn't on stage, it just simply made sense for me to start selling the equipment I have used, know, trust, and am so familiar with.

ROCK ON!!!