MARK DILLON

Mark Dillon's legacy as musician started well before his birth. His grandfather was a founder of the 1930's country act The Lonestar Players, who continued to play country music through the 1930's, 40's and 50's. His great uncle, Hank Jones in addition to being with the Lone Star Players was the host of Louisiana's Old South Jamboree from 1962 till 2001. Other members appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage in the 50's and 60's. Mark was raised with the personal stories of Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, George Jones and several other country greats. This is the foundation that Mark Dillon's own music is built on.

Mark's history as a professional musician is interesting in its own right. Raised near Rolling Prairie, IN (pop. 657) on land that historically was a Miami Indian campsite and a Methodist Minister's retreat in the early 1900's. He started playing guitar at the age of 5 with a long break when he was told by an instructor “your hands are too small to do that”. After graduating in the bottom quarter of his class Mark went against all his parent's wishes and studied music as (ha, ha, ha) a profession. After taking pretty much every college class that didn't involve music Mark was inexplicably awarded a degree in Music Theory from Indiana State University. Realizing that a degree in Music Theory was worth slightly less than the paper it was written on Mark returned to school in Arizona and received an advanced degree in guitar building, making him one of the few musicians in the world who has a guitar endorsement deal with himself. Mark established the repair shop at Front Porch Music in Valparaiso, IN and actually started to make a decent, respectable living. While in Valparaiso he established the Songwriters Association of Northern Indiana (SWANI) as well as studying songwriting and guitar with the likes of Norman Blake, Donovan, John Hartford, Steve Gillette, Martin Simpson and Mary Chapin Carpenter. Of course, having a real job with insurance and benefits was entirely unacceptable to someone with a desire to perform music full time so Mark sold out his business, packed up his backpack and hiked the 2,160 mile Appalachian Trail. After finishing the trail Mark moved to southern Indiana and spent years playing with various bands as well as performing solo gigs around the country. When he realized he was spending more money on alcohol than on food he once again packed his bags sold a bunch of guitars and headed to the dry city of Asheboro, North Carolina where he resides today.

Mark Dillon's performances defy classification. He has performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, (on tenor banjo), premiered jazz pieces with trombone legend JJ Johnson. and busked his way around Ireland. He's appeared on a Kerrville songwriters compilation with the likes of Steve Gillette, Kevin So, and Chuck Brodski. He has appeared as multi-instrumental musician and producer on 15+ cds and in 2000 released his first solo album "A Certain Slant of Light", His stage show is known for its diversity ranging from the country tunes learned in his youth to the 12 string middle eastern slide pieces he is known to undertake when the mood seems appropriate. In short you are never quite sure what to expect of his performances but you are guaranteed an exciting evening that you won't forget.