Now and the Future

Mark and his family moved to Nashville two years ago from Virginia. Mark felt that he was growing “stagnant” and that Nashville would not only offer him new opportunities but new challenges.  When I asked Mark about song writing, he said “there are songwriters on every corner and in every tree” in Nashville. However, Mark has written some songs and has also co-written with Ricky Simpkins. On the album “Living a Dream” Mark recorded a song he wrote after visiting the grave of Bill Monroe called "Monrosine". Today, Mark receives material which is mailed to him and he listens to it all-eventually hearing something that he feels is right for him and the band.  Listening to music for potential material is not new but a long-standing practice. Examples of this are his recordings of “Piney Wood Hills” and “Painted Lady.” Buffy St. Marie wrote and recorded “Piney Wood Hills” in the 1960’s and Willis Alan Ramsey wrote and recorded “Painted Lady.”  Mark recorded both of these while with Knoxville Grass in the 1980’s. “These songs have been good to me,” says Mark and both are often requested at live performances.

Songs looking for artists abound in Nashville and finding one that works for Mark and the Band takes endless hours of listening. At times he sits with Grammy Award Winner producer Carl Jackson and listens to songs for hours. Mark says, “We may listen to the whole song or we may listen to 5 seconds but we listen. Carl has a good ear and he knows my voice and has a great ear for what I should do.”

It has been three years since Mark’s release of “No Boundaries”, but the collaboration between Mark and Carl has resulted in a new CD entitled “Hillbilly Hemingway” being released in the Fall of 2006 on the Rebel label. Mark states that three of his favorite and best works are on this CD. The title track “Hillbilly Hemingway”, written by Mike Ward/Tommy Meece/Carl Jackson, looks at the creative and short life of Hank Williams, Sr. The lyrics for this song artistically weaves references to many of Williams’ works. Mark’s vocals are alive with “feeling” the words and carrying the listener through the creative but tragic life of Hank Williams.

Mike Ward/Eddie Alexander/Heather Dean co-wrote “It’s a Good Town to Die In” which reflects back on childhood memories and coming back home when your life is done. It highlights Marks belief that we all come back to our roots. Again his vocals are warm and help the listener transcend the time from childhood to death with a spirit of optimism, belonging and peace.

Marks third favorite song he recorded is “Home folks”, written by Carl Jackson and Jerry Salley. The Jackson/Salley lyrics vividly paint a picture of a young musician traveling the road and remembering family with thanks for his childhood and life. The instrumentals are clear and provide traditional Bluegrass energy to the song.  The up beat tempo takes the listener through the excitement of being on the road performing and the joy of recalling fond home memories. You can hear a subtle smile in Mark’s voice as he recalls the love of family and his gratitude for them. It seems almost autobiographical.

“Hillbilly Hemingway” is an awesome Bluegrass CD. Mark Newton’s rich voice provides most of the lead vocals however; three band members also perform lead vocals demonstrating the depth of The Mark Newton Band. “Are You Lonesome Tonight” features the lead vocals of Clay Hess; Andy Ball performs the lead vocals for “Fraulien” and Beth Lawrence sings “Blessings”. “Hillbilly Hemingway” is an original with heart moving music in the best Bluegrass storytelling tradition.

As Mark said, Life is good! Especially for those of us who have had the opportunity to experience the Bluegrass sound and passion of Mark Newton and The Mark Newton Band.

© Copyright 2006 by Gary Williams, www.VaBluegrass.com 7-2006

Sound bites of these and other songs from “Hillbilly Hemingway” can be heard at www.VaBluegrass.com or www.MarkNewtonBand.com ; pre-release orders may be made at www.MarkNewtonBand.com . The Mark Newton Band’s music may be found at independent music stores or purchased online from www.RebelRecords.com or www.MarkNewtonBand.com .

TIDBITS �" Mark Newton

VaBluegrass.com Favorite Quote:

“I wish mom and dad were here to see my success.”

Musical Instruments Played

Father Taught and Self Taught - Rhythm Guitar and Mandolin

Memorable Venues:

White House, Grand Ole Opry, Birchmere Theater

Influences on Mark’s Style of Music

Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Osborne Brothers. “These were my heroes. I worshipped them as a child and at the Opry.”

Virginia Influences

My Dad and his band Frog and the Tadpoles,

Buck Ryan and Smitty Erwin �" “They moved on and began to work with Jimmy Dean and were broadcast on Channel 5.”

Also there was the Shenandoah Cutups and Billy ‘Tater’ Tate

“Virginia arguably has some of the best history and artists in Bluegrass….but then there is Carolina.”

Favorite Song(s) Recorded

From the Album Hillbilly Hemingway, Rebel Records

“Hillbilly Hemingway”

“It’s a Good Town to Die In”

“Homefolks”

Biggest Rewards of your career

Doing what I love

Recording Records

Play with people I admire and becoming friends

Working the Grand Ole Opry

Being a part of Bluegrass

On stage playing music �" my art

A sense of gratification

Trivia

The cowboy boots on the “Hillbilly Hemingway” poster were Hank Williams’ boots and were loaned by Marty Stewart for the photo shot.

Recording Label

Rebel Records

Future

This is my 31^st year and I have never looked back.