Mark Mercer (musician)

Mark Mercer IV was a musician and record producer from Seattle, Washington.

Career

Mercer grew up in Aurora, Colorado, and received a degree in sociology from Colorado State University.[1] In 2005, Mercer moved with friends to Seattle and formed the band Masks Phantoms, in which he played drums.[2] This band disbanded after one album and Mercer then began working for Avast! Recording Company.[2] Mercer also worked with bands H is for Hellgate, Lake of Falcons and Juhu Beach.[2]

Death

On June 9, 2008, he suddenly jumped overboard from a ferry into the Mississippi River in New Orleans, where he had been visiting to see friends and attend a recording conference.[1] On June 17, at 2:30 AM, his body was found by a longshoreman. The cause of death was ruled to be drowning. Mercer was 26 years old at the time of his death.[2] It has been suggested that the reason Mercer jumped into the river was that he underestimated the strength of its powerful undercurrents.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jones, Leslie Anne (18 June 2008). "Body of Seattle man, Mark Mercer IV, found in Mississippi River near New Orleans wharf". Seattle Times. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Seattle man drowns after jumping off river ferry in New Orleans". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 17 June 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  3. ↑ Warner, Coleman (21 June 2008). "Drowning victim joyful before his leap". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 30 January 2015.