| Mark Lee Townsend | |
|---|---|
Mark Lee Townsend playing an acoustic set at Cornerstone Festival 2007. |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mark Lee Townsend |
| Origin | U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, Christian rock |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Associated acts | dc Talk Jennifer Knapp Bash 'N The Code Zilch Relient K |
Mark Lee Townsend is known best as guitarist for the Christian rock band dc Talk, playing with them from 1996 until their hiatus in 2001. Mark's career started as a member/singer/guitarist/songwriter for the 80's Pop/Christian band[1] Bash 'N The Code from 1986 through 1991. In between dc Talk tours, he was a lead guitarist for the Christian artist Jennifer Knapp. He creatively added more life to her already well-written songs. At the Cornerstone Festival 2000, he appeared doing an acoustic act where he ended his show with a rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody. During his time with dcTalk, he and other members of the band formed the band, Zilch, and made the album "Platinum" for Gotee Records.
After dc Talk went on an extended hiatus, Townsend took to producing. He produced [Jennifer Knapp Live] in 2006, as seen on jenniferknapp.com,[2] as well as producing and engineering two full-length albums for the Christian rock band The Wedding. He also produced The O.C. Supertones' 2004 album "The Revenge Of The Supertones". He is also the producer of seven albums and multiple smaller releases by Relient K, and also produced three tracks on their fifth album, Five Score and Seven Years Ago, as well. Townsend and Relient K have been quoted as being like family, as Relient K guitarist Matt Hoopes is married to Townsend's daughter.[3] Mark has been a Gibson guitar endorser and was featured in the article below.
A sideman's greatest asset is the chameleon-like ability to adapt to a variety of musical genres as well as imitate the signature sounds of other players. On the other hand, a session player has truly reached the top of the profession when he's in demand to add his own signature sound to a recording or live tour.[4]
Mark Townsend is one of those rare players who is in demand both for his eclectic background and for his signature sounds. Armed with an arsenal of Gibson guitars, the veteran of the contemporary Christian scene is equally at home in the studio with Steve Taylor and Grover Levy or on tour with multi-platinum hip-hop group dc Talk (in support of Jesus Freak). Among the guitars he uses are a Fender Telecaster, and a Paul Reed Smith CE24, along with his several Gibsons.
In May 2006, Mark started his own music label called Brave New World Records. He initially signed two Christian Rock artists (The Wedding and Deas Vail) and produced initial recordings for them, but the label seems to have gone into hiatus as the official website [1] has not be updated since 2009. Deas Vail has gone on to release new music via Relient K's label Mono vs. Stereo Records [2].