Mark Blacknell

About Mark Blacknell

Known for sophisticated lyrics, arrangements and production coupled with a catchy, often hopeful feel, Blacknell’s own sound moves many listeners to new dimensions of appreciation for the indepe Mark Blacknell is a gifted artist whose distinct style of story telling first evolved during jam sessions in the working-class neighborhoods of Philadelphia, PA. His brand of songwriting/performance are widely viewed as spiritual successors to the classic rock tones of the 60's, but he adds to this unique elements that belie the spirit of his extraordinary life. Known for sophisticated lyrics, arrangements and production coupled with a catchy, often hopeful feel, Blacknell’s own sound moves many listeners to new dimensions of appreciation for the independent artist.

Blacknell's life is the stuff of legends. Out of high-school, he worked as box-loader for the Teamsters Union, while doubling as a small time sports bookie. Badly in need of an attitude adjustment, Blacknell enlisted as an infantryman in the Marines. Most Marine grunts day-dream to cope with the boredom and stress of warrior life but Blacknell focused exclusively on college and music. He served honorably during Operation Desert Storm spending a majority of his enlistment overseas to include stints in Iceland, the Philippines and (expired link) received two Meritorious-Masts for distinguished service before honorably leaving the military as one of our nation's many disabled veterans.

Fresh out of the Marines and into college in 1993, Blacknell's day-dreams turned to reality when he was enlisted into his first front-man role by members of a local cover-band who overheard him perfectly mimicking Anthony Kiedis of the Chili Peppers. His inaguaral gig was a disaster and after one performance, Blacknell vowed to write and perform only his own songs.

While attending the University of Sydney, Australia in 1995, Blacknell teamed up with California's Sylvan Hill to form the original act "Zoe's Lair" which included Aussies Alan Wilcox on guitar and Shane Emerson on drums. The band's sound was well ahead of its time; a laid-back Coldplay feel meets the aggressiveness of Grunge bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains. The Lair was best known for performances around the youth hostels of Queensland.

In 1996 Blacknell returned to PA. There he met guitarist Kevin Timothy. Blacknell and Timorthy formed the nexus of the legendary, hard-working Philadelphia band, Asperilla Mint. Asperilla Mint started off as an improvising, blues based, jam act that included dozens of revolving players. The Mint’s final, most cohesive and successful line-up however, played many rooms throughout the East Coast and was best known for assuming the role as "weekly house-band" for two of Philadelphia's most iconic venues, "Doc Watson’s Pub" and "Name that Bar."

Known as proven income generators, Blacknell/Timothy formed strong ties with many club owners across the Tri-State area a. A thriving agency called “What it is!” emerged and over a two year period between 1997 and 1999 the pair booked hundreds of shows including national acts. To promote the bookings, “What it is!” published a free, monthly music magazine.

Blacknell took a long hiatus from music in 2000, working as a PA State Park Ranger and earning a Masters Degree. With his new degree in hand, he was hired as a conservation policymaker for the team of Governor Ed Rendell. In 2005, he met Harrisburg, PA area guitarist Rich Wisner (an original member of the popular Harrisburg group El Kabong) and together the pair recorded acoustic versions of songs that have come to define Blacknell’s psychedelic folksy sound.

Blacknell’s life took an abrupt turn in the latter part of 2005, when he dropped everything to make the documentary movie, "Woke Up Alive" in Israel. His presence on the Israel/Lebanon border during the Summer War of 2006, as well as his two subsequent years of traveling/filming in the holy land, further developed his already rich character. Perhaps more important than the success of the movie "Woke Up Alive" was the fact that Blacknell’s music career was more alive than ever. He was a regular performer at the kibbutz’ of Israel and held an almost celebrity-like status throughout those communities. Through the cigarette smoke and stale beer puddles of kibbutz pubs, Blacknell’s one of a kind voice re-emerged and his passion for music was born-again stronger than ever.

Blacknell recorded several of his previous songs, as well as many new ones with talented Israeli producer/musician Noam Lavi but the project stalled when he left Israel for the island of Maui, Hawaii in 2008. The natural beauty and culture of Maui inspired the singer/songwriter in Blacknell like no other place and dozens of new songs emerged over a five year period. A visit back to the holy land allowed Blacknell to reconnect with Lavi to lay down several more tracks. All of the Lavi produced recordings were finally released together in February 2013 as Blacknell’s ground-breaking, nine song, debut album “Blue Arrow.”

Most recently, Blacknell completed his new, thirteen song demo "When Rain Was Fun" in Vero Beach, Florida. The project is being used to showcase his song-writing prowess and therefore has yet to be released. In the meantime, Blacknell's enlisted a world-class support band, forged a relationship with several music management companies, utilizes interns to help with promotion and is about to complete a series of high quality live-performance music videos. He has been a frequent "guest" performer at several local Treasure Coast, Florida venues and it won't be long until one of the most promising unsigned singer-songwriters of the new millennium hits the road hard in support of his second album.