Mark Karan

Mark Karan
Background information
Origin	San Francisco, California, United States
Genres	Rock
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, vocals
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Quacktone Records
Associated acts	The Other Ones Bob Weir & RatDog Jemimah Puddleduck
Website	www.markkaran.com

Mark Karan is an American guitarist and singer, best known for his longterm work with Bob Weir & RatDog. He also leads the band, Jemimah Puddleduck.

Career

Karan has played guitar and sung for a number of different artists, including Dave Mason, Huey Lewis, Paul Carrack, Delaney Bramlett,^[1] Sophie B. Hawkins, and The Rembrandts.^[2] From 1986-1989 he was the guitarist and co-producer for the band Slings & Arrows which included Daniel Levitin on bass.

In 1998 he was selected to fill Jerry Garcia's slot in The Other Ones,^[3] a band featuring former members of the Grateful Dead. He played with the Other Ones on their 1998 and 2000 tours, and recorded on their only album in 1999. He has also played with Mickey Hart's Planet Drum and Phil Lesh & Friends over the years.

In 1998, Karan joined RatDog,^[4] a band led by Grateful Dead alumnus Bob Weir. Karan was part of the RatDog lineup for most of the next 13 years. He also records or composes a wide variety of music for film, television, and music libraries. His contributions to TV alone can currently be heard on over 15 networks and internationally in over 25 countries.

On June 30, 2009, Karan released his debut album Walk Through the Fire to critical acclaim.^[5][6][7] It features Delaney Bramlett, Billy Payne, Mike Finnigan, Pete Sears, John Molo, Hutch Hutchinson, The Persuasions, The Rowan Brothers, and many more.

His TV appearances include Austin City Limits,^[8] VH1 Classic's All Star Jams,^[9] Late Night with Conan O'Brien,^[10] Late Late Night with Craig Kilborn,^[11] Today Show and Regis & Kathy Lee. Karan has also been showcased in live performances and featured interviews on SiriusXM, in addition to commercial and specialty radio nationwide.

Cancer battle

In July 2007, Karan announced that he was being treated for throat cancer. Steve Kimock sat in for Karan on the Ratdog summer tour.^[12] Karan returned to the lineup in March 2008.^[13] As of October 2011, Karan remains cancer free.

Touring credits

• Paul Carrack - USA Tour (1988)^[14]
• Dave Mason - World Tours (1991, 1992)^[15]
• Sophie B. Hawkins - USA & Australian Tours (1996)
• The Other Ones - USA Tour (1998, 2000)^[16]
• Bob Weir & RatDog - USA Tours (1998-?)^[17]
• Mickey Hart's Planet Drum - USA Summer Tour (1999, inc."Woodstock '99")^[18]
• Delaney Bramlett - Mississippi Tour (2006)^[19]

Discography

Solo work

• Jemimah Puddleduck (2000) — Jemimah Puddleduck
• Walk Through the Fire (2009) — Mark Karan^[20]

Bands / live

• The Strange Remain (1999) — The Other Ones^[21][22]
• Evening Moods (2000) — Ratdog^[23]
• Live at Roseland (2001) — Ratdog^[24]
• On the Road: 07-02-06 Red Rocks (2006) — String Cheese Incident^[25]

Album sessions

• Temptation (1981) — Holly Stanton
• Beyond Passion (1990) — Sky^[26]
• Chopped & Channeled (1991) — Dynatones
• Makin' It Real (1993) — Jesse Colin Young^[27]
• Exception to the Rule (1994) — Arnold McCuller^[28]
• Crazy Boy (1995) — Jesse Colin Young^[29]
• Moment of Truth (1996) — Jack James^[30]
• Chicago Songs (1996) — Skip Haynes^[31]
• Well (1996) — David Grow^[32]
• Coast of Paradise (1996) — Suzy K^[33]
• Open the Door (1998) — Janet Robin^[34]
• Hindsight (1998) — John Purdell^[35]
• Spin This! (1998) — Danny Wilde & The Rembrants^[2][36]
• Still Searching for Soul (1999) — Corey Feldman's Truth Movement^[37]
• Mister Blue (1999) — Mr. Blue^[38]
• Pieces (1999) — P.J. Levy^[39]
• Sounds from Home (2000) — Delaney Bramlett^[1][40]
• Former Child Actor (2002) — Corey Feldman^[41]
• Blue Sky (2003) — David Ralston^[42]
• The Whole Enchilada (2003) — Teresa James^[43]
• Emptyness and Ecstasy (2004) — Wynne Paris^[44]
• Still Dancin' (2006) — G 13^[34][45]
• Khemmenu: Land of the Moon (2006) — Sky^[46]
• Crossing the Line (2008) — Bill Cutler^[47]
• Live/Studio Closet Tapes (2008) — The Moonlighters (Bill Kirchen, Richard Casanova, Tony Johnson, Steve MacKay)^[48]
• A New Kind Of Blues (2008) — Delaney Bramlett
• Persuasions of the Dead: The Grateful Dead Sessions (2011) — The Persuasions & Friends^[49]

Compilation albums

• Bad Sci-Fi Soundtrack Series (1995) — (various artisis - performed with Scarecrow Adams)^[50]
• Further Most (2000) — Ramble On Rose and Easy Answers, performed by The Other Ones)^[51]
• KBCO Studio C, Volume 12 (2000) — Odessa, performed by Bob Weir & Ratdog^[52]
• KPRI Live Tracks 3 (2002) — KC Moan, performed by Bob Weir & Mark Karan^[53]
• Weir Here - The Best of Bob Weir (2004) — Bob Weir^[54]
• KBCO Studio C, Volume 16 (2005) — Ripple, performed by Bob Weir & Ratdog^[55]
• KPFA Live From Berkeley (2005) — Memphis Radio, performed by Jemimah Puddleduck^[56]
• Jam on Guitars (2009) — (various artists)^[57]
• KPFA Live From Berkeley, Vol 2 (2012) — Leave a Light On, performed by A Mark Karan Experience^[58]

Singles sessions

• Run to Her (single) (1983) — Julie Stafford^[59]

Film and TV soundtracks

• Chantilly Lace (1993) – Showtime (Patrick Seymour, composer) – guitar
• Parallel Lives (1994) – Showtime (Patrick Seymour, composer) – guitar
• Stonewall (1995) – (Michael Kamen, composer) – guitar
• Orleans (1997) – CBS dramatic series (David Hamilton, composer) – guitar
• Tricks (1997) – Showtime (Patrick Seymour, composer, also includes original song by MK & Patrick Seymour) – guitar
• Waco: The Rules of Engagement (1996, Academy Award Nominated) – (David Hamilton, composer) – guitar
• Scrubs (2001) – NBC (Jan Stevens/MK co-composers) – guitar
• Fall of Night (2005) – MK original song “No Escape” - closing credit roll
• Asylum (2009) – currently on HBO - (David Hamilton, composer) – guitar
• Guitarman (in prod., 2008)- 2 songs on soundtrack: “All Along the Watchtower” - guitar, “Love In Vain” – guitars/vocals/producer

References

Other sources

• Heselgrave, Douglas. "Only Ratdogs and Puddleducks: Out in the Midday Sun with Mark Karan", The Music Box, March 2007
• Jackson, Blair. "RatDog Guitarist Mark Karan: The Long Road Home", Dead.net, 2007
• Kolesari, Pete. "Going Further with Mark Karan", JamBase.com, February 24, 2004
• Budnick, Dean. "Mark Karan's Menagerie: From Ratdog to Jemimah Puddleduck", JamBands.com, May 2000
• Grateful Web interview of Mark Karan, April 21, 2001
• Focus Newspaper interview of Mark Karan, October 2005
• Bendersky, Ari. "Former Dead Members Premiere New Lineup In San Francisco", Rolling Stone, June 6, 1998
• Dansby, Andrew. "Marley, Dead Guys to Play Furthur 2000", Rolling Stone, June 8, 2000
• Sullivan, James. "Doubly Grateful: Pair of guitarists adds musical heft to Other One's debut", San Francisco Chronicle, June 6, 1998
• Sullivan, James. "Other Ones Looking Like Old Comrades", San Francisco Chronicle, July 27, 1998
• Selvin, Joel. "The Other Ones Take It Furthur", San Francisco Chronicle, August 22, 2000
• Cooper, Scott. "Life After The Dead: Guitarist Bob Weir runs with Ratdog at the Warfield", San Francisco Chronicle, May 4, 2001
• Selvin, Joel. "Other Ones Reunite", San Francisco Chronicle, December 1, 2002
• Cook, Dennis. Concert review: "A Fillmore Friday the 13th. | Jemimah Puddleduck's Fillmore Debut" January 13, 2004, JamBase.com, February 2, 2004
• Selvin, Joel. "Dead Man Talking", San Francisco Chronicle, March 21, 2004
• Pareles, Jon. Concert review: The Other Ones at the Warfield Theatre, June 5, 1998, New York Times, June 6, 1998
• Metzger, John. Concert review: Ratdog at the Riviera Theatre, November 4, 1998, The Music Box, December, 1998
• Metzger, John. Concert review: Ratdog at the Riviera Theatre, November 4, 1999, The Music Box, January, 2000
• Metzger, John. Concert review: Ratdog at the Riviera Theatre, November 5, 2000, The Music Box, January, 2001
• Condran, Ed. "Hot Rats", Atlantic City Weekly, July 9, 2009
• Rock, Doctor "Mischievous lyrical ramblings, with booze and Les Claypool", Marin Independent Journal, November 20, 2009

External links

• Mark Karan's official website
• Ratdog's official site