Mark R. Harris

Bass player (fretted 7 string and fretted 4 string electric bass, unfretted 7 string electric bass, acoustic double bass), Composer, Arranger and Producer

Mark R. Harris is very versatile, playing in a number of styles including jazz (big band, ambient acoustic, Latin, funk, progressive, fusion), country, rock, pop, world music, blues, soul and bluegrass. He has played in touring bands in Canada, the United States and Switzerland and has done studio work in LA, Nashville, Austin, Miami, Buffalo and Toronto. He also arranges, produces and composes his own music and has released CDs with multi-instrumentalist and composer Paul Messina. Mark has been a mainstay in bands in all the cities where he has lived and continues to be in demand as a reliable, creative and intuitive bass player.

Born in Montréal, Canada and reared in Buffalo, New York, Mark has been playing musical instruments of all sorts since the age of four and has been performing professionally for over fifty years.

Mark’s first love is acoustic string bass, but he is completely at home on an electric instrument, up to and including seven string fretted and fretless bass guitar (for which he has had an endorsement from Conklin Musical Instruments). His musicality, vast knowledge and stylistic range are remarkable. His musical interpretations are notable--whether he’s playing his own compositions or those written by others. His original material is refreshing, with a lyrical feel, punctuated by interesting, memorable melody lines and a dynamic rhythmic quality. 

Mark smiles and laughs easily, on stage or off, a natural reflection of his love for life and people. He is a pivotal cohesive force in any group of musicians with whom he works. He is a pleasure to make music with and those he has played with agree. That list includes: Mel Tillis, the Lennon Brothers (from the Lawrence Welk Show), Tommy Dorsey Band, Leon Russell, Phil Keaggy, Bobby Vinton, Mary Wilson, Bobby Rydell, Lou Donaldson, Joe Donato, Freddy Cole (brother of Nat King Cole), Stan Lassiter, James Patrick Lynch, Larry Coryell, Rick “Hock” Walsh (former lead vocalist with Downchild Blues Band), Wayne Jackson (of the Memphis Horns), Bobby Enriquez, Anita O’Day, Monty Rock the 3^rd, Shelby Lynne, Al DeLory (member of the Wrecking Crew), Vassar Clements, Rosana Hill Mendez, Sandy Patton, Maureen McGovern, Joe Porcarro, Wilfred Reyes Sr., David Freeman (composer of No More “I Love Yous” performed by Annie Lennox), Maureen McGovern, and Little Anthony and the Imperials. 

As you experience his energy, his playing, his tunes, his performances, his genuine passion for music, you will know that Mark R. Harris is truly a master.

Education

Mark majored in Performance and Composition at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He then studied acoustic bass privately with Lew Berriman and Don Coffman of the University of Miami Jazz Department

People Mark Has Played With and Places He has Been

•Bassist for Bobby Vinton, The Lennon Brothers, Mel Tillis (Branson,
Missouri) 

•Acoustic and electric bassist for Vassar Clements with the Florida Symphony Orchestra (Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater)

•Electric bassist for Miami based R&B band, IKO-IKO 

•U.S. Tour with the Dorsey Big Band conducted by Buddy Morrow

•Acoustic and electric bass and vocals with James Patrick Lynch
(Nashville, Tennessee)

•Performance and recording bassist for Omar Mesa of Mandrill (Warner  Brothers Records) in South Florida 

•Performance and recording bassist for Miami based singer/songwriter Peter Betan, opening for Michael McDonald, Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal, Styx ( South Florida) 

• Bassist with Richie Franks (percussionist for Jaco Pastorius, Wayne Cochran, Herbie Hancock), European Tour

•Bassist with the Downchild Blues Band (Attic Recording Artists) opening for James Cotton, Albert King, Koko Taylor (Canadian Tour)

•Bassist on Opening Ceremonies Theme Recording for MCI Center, 
Washington, D.C. 

•House bassist at the Mirage International’s Beau Rivage Casino/Hotel (Biloxi, MS) 

•House band bassist for Miami Beach’s Woody’s Night Club Band featuring Bobby Keyes (sax player for the Rolling Stones) 

•Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, backing Bobby Rydell, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Van Dyke, Al Martino as well as playing shipboard production shows

•Norwegian Cruise Line, backing Rita Moreno, Maureen McGovern, Chubby Checker, Carl Perkins, The Ink Spots and shipboard production shows 

•Pit orchestra player in the South Florida area for shows such as “Deco After Dark” (Fontainebleau Hotel, Miami Beach) and “Ain’t Misbehavin”(Fort Lauderdale Performing Arts Center) 

 •Acoustic and electric bass player, actor, and vocalist as “Eddie”, original Broadway cast production of ”Pump Boys and Dinettes” (Branson, Missouri)

•Bassist for New York road production of Kander & Ebbs’ “The World Goes ‘Round” (Seaside Performing Arts Center, Daytona Beach, FL)

•Bassist and composition collaborator for Bizzy Bone (Bone Thugs and Harmony) featured on sound track for the motion picture, “Blade” 

•Festivals Including: Sunfest (West Palm Beach), Hollywood
Jazz Festival (Hollywood, Florida), Franklin Jazz Festival (Franklin,
Tennessee), Tennessee Jazz and Blues Society Festival (Nashville,
Tennessee), Miami Jazz Festival

•Recording bassist and vocalist with world beat band Kamuka (artist 
development by Island Records and Bill Graham, New York )

•Bassist in national and regional ads including Sea-Doo, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Black’s Cameras of Canada, Deancare Health Systems

•Bassist in numerous industrial video soundtracks in both United States and Canada

•Free-lance on-call demo and master session bassist for various studios in Buffalo, New York; Halifax, Nova Scotia; St. John’s, Newfoundland;  Miami, Florida; Branson, Missouri; Nashville, Tennessee