Mark Elliott is a

songwriter A songwriter is a musician who professionally composes musical compositions or writes lyrics for songs, or both. The writer of the music for a song can be called a composer, although this term tends to be used mainly in the classical music gen ...

author An author is the writer of a book, article, play, mostly written work. A broader definition of the word "author" states: "''An author is "the person who originated or gave existence to anything" and whose authorship determines responsibility f ...

and

guitarist A guitarist (or a guitar player) is a person who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of guitar family instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselv ...

whose career started in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

, and later took him to

Nashville Nashville is the capital city of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the seat of Davidson County. With a population of 689,447 at the 2020 U.S. census, Nashville is the most populous city in the state, 21st most-populous city in the U.S., and the ...

. As a songwriter Elliott has penned hits which reached the Billboard Top Forty charts, notably "Every Man for Himself" for

Neal McCoy Hubert Neal McGaughey Jr. (born July 30, 1958), known professionally as Neal McCoy, is an American country music singer. He has released 10 studio albums on various labels, and has released 34 singles to country radio. Although he first charted on ...

(US Country No. 37, 2000). As an author, Mark is represented by Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents, Inc. New York, New York, and has released his debut coming of age memoir, entitled, "The Sons of Starmount: Memoir of a Ten-Year-Old Boy" on Valentine's Day 2019. The companion album to the book, featuring all original songs produced in the style of the 1970s (the era of the story) is also available.

Early Career and Work as a Songwriter

As a teenager, Elliott immersed himself in the vibrant bluegrass and folk music scene of

One of his earliest guitar teachers and mentors was Phil Rosenthal, from the famed bluegrass band,

The Seldom Scene The Seldom Scene is an American bluegrass band that formed in 1971 in Bethesda, Maryland. The band's original line-up comprised John Starling on lead vocals and guitar, Mike Auldridge on Dobro and baritone vocals, Ben Eldridge on banjo, Tom Gra ...

. A debut album (''Common Ground'', 1988) and a last minute opening act fo
Tom Paxton
lit the fire of the young writer, leading him to

and a publishing deal with Cherry Lane Music. Elliott went on to staff writing positions with major publishing companies including, Bluewater Music Group, Maypop Music Group (owned by the super-group

Alabama (We dare defend our rights) , anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama" , image_map = Alabama in United States.svg , seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery , LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville , LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...

) as well as Sony Music Publishing. Elliott's songs have been recorded by independent and major artists, receiving airplay on radio and TV in the United States and abroad. His songs have hit the ''Billboard'' Top Forty charts, notably the hit single b
Neal McCoy
''Every Man for Himself'' which ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine called "a song with rare lyrical and musical edge and the best cut on the album." The late Rodeo and Recording sta
Chris LeDoux
also recorded one of Mark's songs ""Making Ends Meet"" on his Capitol Records ""Whatcha Gonna Do With A Cowboy"" release. Buoyed by wins in singer-songwriter contests at major festivals across the country Elliott began to build a reputation for standout live performances. However, it was winning the Kerrville New Folk Award in 1993 that really put him on the map and on the road. As one-half of the duo Culley & Elliott, he toured extensively in support of their acclaimed CD,
Flight of Dreams
1993).

Solo career

Common Ground

Mark's debut solo album, Common Ground on the West Texas East label was recorded in the Washington, DC suburbs and released in 1988. It was Common Ground that first attracted he attention of the legendar
Tom Paxton
and ultimately lead to Mark's move to Nashville, TN in 1990.

My Great Escape

The year 2000 brought Elliott back to a solo career and a successful new CD,
My Great Escape
', featuring a duet with

Tom Paxton Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer-songwriter who has had a music career spanning more than fifty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.

(''Stars in Their Eyes''). Described as an easy blend of folk and country with pop and jazz, the album was an Americana Chart's top 70 CD and its songs were played on commercial and public radio programs across the United States and abroad. The song ''She Rode Horses'' reached #2 on the independent country chart, ''Inside Country''. ''

Sing Out! ''Sing Out!'' was a quarterly journal of folk music and folk songs that was published from May 1950 through spring 2014. It was originally based in New York City, with a national circulation of approximately 10,000 by 1960. Background ''Sing Out ...

'' Magazine called it a "superb album" and ''Music Row'' Magazine said "almost too good" and "I'll bet he's a killer to hear live."

American Road

In 2004, the album
American Road
' set out to capture characters, towns and stories from Elliott's well-traveled past. ''American Road'' attracted vocal collaborations from luminaries Don Henry (Grammy Award-winning songwriter) an
Jonell Mosser
(renowned vocalist who has sung with the likes of

Bonnie Raitt Bonnie Lynn Raitt (; born November 8, 1949) is an American blues singer and guitarist. In 1971, Raitt released her self-titled debut album. Following this, she released a series of critically acclaimed roots-influenced albums that incorporated ...

B.B. King Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B.B. King, was an American blues singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shi ...

and

Ringo Starr Sir Richard Starkey (born 7 July 1940), known professionally as Ringo Starr, is an English musician, singer, songwriter and actor who achieved international fame as the drummer for the Beatles. Starr occasionally sang lead vocals with the ...

). Elliott's US touring through 2005 continued to include high profile clubs and festivals, including an official showcase spot at th
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival

Pickin' Blackberries

In 2006 Elliott's road led back to his Folk and Bluegrass beginnings. The new CD,
Pickin' Blackberries
' shares 12 new songs with some of the most respected names in acoustic music. Elliott's guitar and voice, coupled with the likes of IBMA winner

Jim Hurst Jim Hurst is an American bluegrass and country guitarist. He is known primarily as an instrumentalist but has also been credited for vocals with numerous other artists as well as his solo career. Hurst has performed with musicians that include ...

, National finger-picking champio
Pete Huttlinger
and Americana diva
The McCrary Sisters
make for a strong and genuine delivery of captivating stories.

Cordell

In the summer of 2008 Mark was commissioned by the TN State Parks and th
Friends of Cordell Hull State Park
to write the song
Cordell
and produce a CD about the life and times of the famous TN statesman,

Cordell Hull Cordell Hull (October 2, 1871July 23, 1955) was an American politician from Tennessee and the longest-serving U.S. Secretary of State, holding the position for 11 years (1933–1944) in the administration of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ...

. That CD continues to be used in Tennessee schools as well a
United Nations
educational programs.

''Good Life''

In the fall of 2008 Elliott released his CD
Good Life
' including a song by the late Chicago troubadour Tom Dundee as well as ''Wake-Up'', written for

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

's 2008 US presidential campaign and used in rallies and fundraisers in the last months of that campaign.

The Sons of Starmount - Companion EP Vol 1

Released spring 2019 �
This five-song EP
of original songs written from the new Mark Elliott Memoir
The Sons of Starmount
was produced and recorded as if it were released in

1977 Events January * January 8 – Three bombs explode in Moscow within 37 minutes, killing seven. The bombings are attributed to an Armenian separatist group. * January 10 – Mount Nyiragongo erupts in eastern Zaire (now the Democratic R ...

(the year the story takes place.) Vol 1 represents the 70's singer-songwriter version of the companion EP.

Recent Work – Runaway Home

Mark is now singing in the Nashville, Americana trio calle
Runaway Home
Runaway Home is a Panoramic-Americana band founded by two intrepid dreamers and schemers who share a love for music and the places it takes us all. Mark Elliott and Gary Culley are more than just members of a popular traveling band. They are avid outdoorsmen and, lovers of all things wild. This album sums up their 26-year friendship in music and wilderness. It rings with every valley they have camped in, flows with every river they have kayaked and canoed down, and soars with every mountain they have summited. Moreover, of course, this set of music echoes from every stage they have played together over the last quarter century. Gotta Get Outside has thirteen new and old songs written about, and in many cases, within, the wilderness Runaway Home so loves. The album will also be a jumping off point for the band to begin turning their music into action, protecting what is near and dear - nature. The band is actively touring. Mark Elliott and Runaway Home are endorsed by Elixir Strings and

Taylor Guitars Taylor Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer based in El Cajon, California, and is one of the largest manufacturers of acoustic guitars in the United States. They specialize in acoustic guitars and semi-hollow electric guitars. The company w ...

. He owns and manages the Cub Creek recording studio.Cub Creek homepage
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External links

* https://markelliottcreative.com *http://sonsofstarmount.com
Runaway Home homepage

Related Runaway Home Videos

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Mark Living people 1967 births Guitarists from Washington, D.C. Guitarists from Tennessee Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee 20th-century American guitarists