Gary Marker
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Gary 'Magic' Marker is a bass guitarist and recording engineer best known for his involvement in various psychedelic rock bands of the 1960s.
A bass player with jazz leanings, who had studied at Berklee College of Music[1], Marker was a member of the legendary Rising Sons between 1964 and 1966, along with Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal.
During this time he became friendly with Don Vliet. He helped with Vliet's musical education [2] and played with Captain Beefheart and his Magic Band on a number of occasions but was unwilling to kow tow to the large Beefheart ego on a regular basis.
Marker was involved in the early production work on Safe As Milk. He stood in for Jerry Handley on bass at live shows during 1964-67 and joined the Magic Band for a short spell in 1968-69 ('Moonlight On Vermont' and 'Veterans Day Poppy' from Trout Mask Replica are the only two surviving tracks which feature his bass playing - a third track, a reworking of 'Kandy Korn', has disappeared) [3].
Two other bands of his, The Jazz Folk and The New World Jazz Company (which also included John Locke, Randy California and Ed Cassidy before moving on to to form Spirit), were never recorded. His band Fusion recorded a 1969 album entitled "Border Town" which featured Ry Cooder.
In 1978, he featured on an album by Juicy Groove, alongside vocalist Michael Rainbow Neal (ex-The Seeds), guitarists Mars Bonfire (ex-Steppenwolf), Elliot Ingber (ex-Mothers of Invention and Magic Band) and drummer "Thundercloud", son of former bandmate Ed Cassidy.
He has played in numerous bands (and with many legendary performers) over the years, been a regular session musician as well working as an engineer/producer. He's now retired from the music business but still maintains an active interest (especially in Beefheart-related matters).
Married to Deborah Colden, Gary has two children; Sydney Rose Marker and Jacob Colden Marker, and now resides in Northern California, and is currently retired.
References
- ^ Kirkeby, Marc (1992), Rising Sons (sleevenotes to Sony CD 472865 2)
- ^ Barnes, Mike (2000). Captain Beefheart. London: Quartet Books. p. 27. ISBN 0704380730.
- ^ Barnes, Mike (2000). Captain Beefheart. London: Quartet Books. p. 97. ISBN 0704380730.