Mark Longster

Bio:

Born in Billingham UK in 1959 Mark has been writing songs for the last ten years. After a very unproductive time at the local grammer school Mark left to train as a shipwright at the local shipyard on the Tees. Following its closure he moved to Leeds then Knaresborough where he met Bobbi McGee who taught hin to play guitar when he was in his early thirties.During the next fifteen years he has played with a number of bands and duos playing folk country and rock and roll. He runs a folk club in Pool in Wharfedale and a concert venue in Harrogate with the other members of Northern LIghts which is his current band. In September 1997 Mark's kidneys failed and he had to undergo dialysis three times a week with the inevitable consequence of an early retirement from his flourishing career as a quality control manager. During this enforced period of inactivity music became more important than ever but in order to keep his mind busy mark returned to education and finally graduated with honours in Social Studies and Politics in 2003. Following a transplant in 1999 and a period of better health Mark returned to dialysis in 2005 The picture on the cover of the CD is of Staithes, on the North East coast. It was here that my family made their living from the sea and mining from the 1500's up till the early 1900's when the lure of steady money working for ICI drew them away. My father spent much of his formative years back in Staithes with the relatives who remained there wishing much of the time that he could follow in their footsteps and work the sea. He eventually got his own boat in his later years and those times were very happy for him. I look back on those days with joy and feel as drawn to the sea as he was. One day God willing we will meet again ON THE SHORE The songs on this album were written over the last ten years and as the title suggests are in reverse chronological order with the oldest being the final track. Music has played a very important part of my life and I am joined on this album by the rest of Northern Lights Anne Jackson and Chris Rawnsley with guest appearances from:- Steve Fairholme and John Savage of Otley. LOOKING BACK IS NOW AVAILABLE ON:-

Member Since:

May 18, 2006

Members:

Mark Longster - Guitar and vocals Anne Jackson -Appalachian Mountain Dulcimer and backing vocals Chris Rawnsley - Double Bass - backing vocals Steve Fairholme - Melodeons John Savage - Fiddle Sound and production - Spike Hornsby ..

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Influences:

Too Many to mention them all but a good start would be :- Nanci Griffiths - John Prine - Bob Fox - Jez Lowe - Allan Taylor - and Ewen Carruthers

Record Label:

I record and mix in my front room on a pc