Mark Lowry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mark Allen Lowry
Mark Lowry, on the cover of his album, The Best of Mark Lowry, Volume 2
Mark Lowry, on the cover of his album, The Best of Mark Lowry, Volume 2
Background information
Born June 24, 1958 (1958-06-24) (age 49)
Genre(s) Southern Gospel
Occupation(s) Singer, Songwriter, Comedian, Author
Voice type(s) Baritone
Years active 1980-present
Website http://www.marklowry.com/

Mark Allen Lowry (born June 24, 1958) is a Christian comedian, songwriter, and singer. Lowry has performed with the Gaither Vocal Band. He has recorded eleven albums, both music and comedy. The best known song written by Lowry is the Christmas song, “Mary, Did You Know.”

Contents

[edit] Early Life

Lowry was born in Houston, Texas to Charles and Beverly Lowry. Lowry often uses anecdotes of his young life in his comedy. Lowry also speaks of his experience with hyperactivity and Attention Deficit Disorder in his performances. Lowry is the self-described “Poster Child for hyperactivity.” As such, Lowry has become an unofficial advocate of people with ADD.

When I was a kid, my hyperactivity was always getting me into trouble. Most people figured I would grow up to be a criminal. A little voice inside me convinced me I was a failure, that I would never amount to anything. I had what's known today as A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder). Back then, they called it B.R.A.T.

—Mark Lowry

[edit] Early Career

While attending Liberty College (now known as Liberty University) Lowry joined a college evangelistic team and began singing. Lowry's comedy career inadvertently began from here. There would be an elongated pause in his singing performance while he waited for the soundtrack to be changed. Lowry began to fill this pause with a monologue. Lowry soon realized that the audiences at his performances were laughing not at him but at his monologues.

Here would come Mr. Serious in a polyester suit and vest singing a soft, slow song that practically put an audience into a coma. Who expected humor to be coming next? Soon, my singing was just an act that I used to lull folks before I zinged 'em.

—Mark Lowry

[edit] Mary, Did You Know?

In 1984 Lowry was asked to write a script for a church Christmas play. Lowry wrote a series of questions that he would like to ask Mary, the mother of Jesus. These questions were used in between the scenes of the play. Six years later Buddy Greene wrote the music; thus, the Christmas play script became the song.

The song has become a popular Christmas song performed by more than thirty artists including, Kenny Rogers, Wynonna Judd, and Natalie Cole, among others.

[edit] The Gaither Vocal Band

I didn't even know Bill Gaither. I don't even know how he got my number. But I'm sure glad he did. He asked me if I would like to join the Gaither Vocal Band. I didn't tell him that I can't read music - I didn't think that that was the time to bring that up. And I didn't tell him that I had never sung baritone before - I didn't want to bring that up either. But I went and auditioned and he asked me if I would like to join the group.

—Mark Lowry, Remotely Controlled

In 1988, Lowry was approached by Bill Gaither and asked to join the Gaither Vocal Band as the baritone. Lowry's career with the Gaither Vocal Band spanned thirteen years. During this time Lowry's on-stage antics became popular with audiences. As a result, Lowry became the co-host of the many concerts and shows performed by Gaither and the Vocal Band with Gaither playing the straight man to Lowry's clownish antics.

In June 2001 Lowry resigned from the Gaither Vocal Band after performing longer with the band than any previous or present member except Bill Gaither himself.

[edit] Current Projects

Lowry continues to tour the United States performing his music and comedy concerts as well as recording music and comedy CD Albums and videos. In addition, Lowry records and publishes several iPod podcasts. Lowry is also currently co-hosting the "Bill Gaither's Homecoming Radio" program.

[edit] Family

Lowry is single and has no children. He has two siblings - an older brother Mike of Lynchburg, Virginia and a younger sister, Melissa also of Lynchburg. He refers to his siblings as "perfect" at different times (my older brother Mike, who is perfect... Melissa came along and she was perfect, too...) He also has several nieces and nephews. Mark has consistently denied rumors that he is a homosexual as that would be incompatible with his strong Christian faith.

[edit] References

[edit] External Links