Press

SHORT BIO:
Marc Black is an eclectic folk-rocker who proudly carries on the Woodstock tradition of dealing with his ‘Life…one song at a time.’ He’s been hailed by noted folk artist Happy Traum for his “timeless” songs featuring “deep grooves, excellent playing [and] top-notch guitar and vocals.” Stylistically he lays down a soulful fingerstyle groove in the tradition of Mississippi John Hurt, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Paul Simon. He’s performed and recorded with legends like Art Garfunkel, Pete Seeger, John Sebastian, Taj Mahal and Richie Havens. Marc’s subjects range from his love of coffee to the scourge of hydro-fracking. His admiration for Rachel Maddow to heartbreaking love songs. Marc has entertained all over the United States and beyond.

FULL BIO:

Marc Black is an eclectic folk-rocker who carries the Woodstock tradition of dealing with life with all its social and political challenges…one song at a time. He’s been hailed by noted folk artist Happy Traum for his “timeless” songs featuring “deep grooves, excellent playing [and] top-notch guitar and vocals.”

He’s performed and recorded with many luminaries including Pete Seeger, Art Garfunkel and Rick Danko. Levon Helm also invited Marc to play one of the Midnight Rambles.

Marc’s song subjects range from his love for Rachel Maddow, good coffee and just about everything in between. His fingerstyle blues is reminiscent of Mississippi John Hurt and Lightnin’ Hopkins. And his recent CD, Pictures of the Highway, reached #6 on the Folk DJ Chart.

Traveling with his gps and his Guild D40, Marc spends most of his time on the road— playing festivals, clubs, arts centers, libraries and house concerts. He was named Folk Artist of the Year on ABC Radio’s Fame Games and was a finalist in the prestigious Grassy Hill Kerrville New Folk Competition. Sometime a Spark, his song about Mohamed Bouazizi and the Arab Spring, caused an international stir that led to an interview on Tunisian State Radio.

He’s currently completing a duet CD entitled Champions of Love with piano great, Warren Bernhardt. (http://www.warrenbernhardt.com/).

While still in high school, his band, the Blades of Grass, reached the top forty and performed along side the biggest acts of the day including the Doors, Van Morrison and Neil Diamond. He has since recorded more than a dozen CDs including one ‘pick hit’ in Billboard Magazine and another that was recognized as a ‘minor masterpiece’ by famed music producer John Hammond Sr.

In the 1980s, Marc won the American Library Association Award for Best Children’s Album for producing American Children, a collaboration with such talented artists as Richie Havens, Taj Mahal and Maria Muldaur. ASCAP has featured Marc in performance at the Sundance Film Festival and several of his Youtube videos have been viewed more than 50,000 times!

Over the past couple of years, he’s occasionally turned to a more topical songwriting style. One tune, No Fracking Way – recorded with John Sebastian and Eric Weissberg (of “Dueling Banjos” fame), and some 100 Woodstock, NY citizens — has been sung at rallies as far away as South Africa, Ireland and Australia.

SOLO PERFORMANCE VIDEOS:

Born Again American

I’ll Be Gone

FULL BAND VIDEOS:

Move Up To The Country

While I’m Standing

PRESS QUOTES:

Deep grooves, excellent playing, top notch guitar and vocals–Marc’s songs are timeless. - Happy Traum

It was an amazing evening. Marc Black is pure gold. We came away feeling richer. Not only from the joy we shared, but also from the thoughtful, profound energy his music brings. We cannot thank him enough. – Ihor Radish, Musicon4 Concerts

Marc’s song, ‘I Love You Rachel Maddow’, was one of my two favorite songs of the year – John Sebastian

Marc’s music is intelligent and musical. His live shows are always fresh, natural and extremely entertaining. That’s why he’s played the Towne Crier dozens of times. - Phil Ciganer

Marc Black carves something beautiful out of life’s rawest emotions. – Brian Hollander, Woodstock Times

I love your music. You’re part of the family now. - James Reilley, Psalm Salon

Just him and his old guitar and a speaker, the old t-shirt and jeans and cool sneakers and old white hat…and pure creativity is rolling off him like water – Rice, Notes from the Voodoo Cafe

You are a keeper of the spirit of our time, circling around us with song. The entire room was entranced. – Lynn Duvall, Joshua’s Cafe

We think he is one of our biggest discoveries. Marc can – and should – be an international superstar,” – Paul Sedkowski, ABC Radio’s Famegames

His songs are great and his singing is superb. – Paul Winter

ADDRESSES:

Marc Black Website: http://www.marcblack.com

Marc Black Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marcblackmusic

Marc Black Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/marcblackmusic

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