NEWS
Latest Update: July 16, 2009

Apologies for the long time between updates. Since last writing, Mark was enlisted as Music Director and lead guitarist/keyboardist/ backing vocalist for the CD Release Party of Laura Austin’s long-awaited album, “Bittersweetheart” (yes, it finally got released!) With a killer band assembled by Mark (Scott Allyn – acoustic guitar and songwriter; Peg Newell – guitars and backing vocals; John Goodwin – keyboards and backing vocals; Michael P. Ryan –bass and backing vocals, and Cathy LaManna on drums), they ruled The Redhouse for two shows on April 4, 2009 to an ecstatic response. A lot of preparation went into the shows: the band rehearsed for two months.

Also over the course of the long winter Mark produced and played on an upcoming CD from talented singer/songwriter Michael Gordon, who is expecting a Fall release for the project.

Mark also traveled to Boston to do string arrangements and guitar work on an album for up and coming French singer/ songwriter Violette de Bartillat.

And in the midst of a February blizzard, Mark went into the studio and in two days knocked off the debut album from his new band, Mark Doyle & The Maniacs. The record is called “Shake ‘Em On Down: A Salute To The 60s British Blues Boom” and is a fiery homage to the four great guitarists that most influenced Mark in his formative years: Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Peter Green, and Kim Simmonds. The band features Terry Quill on harmonica and 2nd guitar, Jack “Penetrator” Lipton on vocals, Michael P. Ryan on bass and vocals, and Frank DeFonda on drums and percussion. The record was produced by Mark and recorded, mixed and mastered by Jocko at More Sound in Syracuse. It’s just been released and the band debuted at Taste of Syracuse on June 5 to ecstatic reviews, following up with a headlining slot at Inner Harbor on July 1.

On July 25 The Maniacs go deep catalogue and play an entire night of British Blues Boom music at Bear Bones in Auburn, from 9-12:30.

Opportunities to see Mark play live this summer are:

May 23 – Paper Mill Island, Baldwinsville (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

May 30 – Dwyer Memorial Park (Apple Jazz 25th Anniversary)

June 5 – The Taste of Syracuse, Clinton Square (debut of Mark Doyle & The Maniacs)

July 1 – Inner Harbor, Syracuse Mark Doyle & The Maniacs)

July 21 – Hoopes Park, Auburn (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

July 26 – Bear Bones, Auburn (Mark Doyle & The Maniacs)

July 26 – Sherwood Inn R&B Fest, Skaneateles (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

More live dates will be announced as we go. Please check http://myspace.com/markdoylemusic for up-to-date additions.

That’s it for now – have a glorious Summer!
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Past Updates:

May 31 – Dwyer Memorial Park (Apple Jazz Band)

June 14 – The Redhouse (Mark guests on a few songs at the Andy Pratt solo show)

June 24 – The Redhouse (Premiere of “The Truth” biopic – Mark and Joe will answer questions afterwards)

July 11 – Cortland Music Fest (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

July 15 – Hoopes Park, Auburn (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

July 27 – Sherwood Inn R&B Fest, Skaneateles (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

September 13 – Emerson pavilion, Auburn (The Doyle – Whiting Band)

More live dates will be announced as we go.

Mark has been busy recording and producing. This year has seen the release of “Harboring The Day” by Jonah Cohen, “Masters of War” by Andy Pratt, “What I’ve Become” by 12AM, “Bad Woman” by The Penetrators, and “China Ranch” by Frank Briggs. All of these recordings are available at CD Baby except Andy Pratt, available at <itsaboutmusic.com>. (Speaking of Andy, he’s playing a solo show at The Redhouse on June 14th, and Mark will guest on a few songs from the Resolution era. It will be Andy’s first show in Syracuse since 1977!)
Mark has also wrapped up production on the first solo album ever from George Egosarian, a founding member of Free Will and Jukin’ Bone. Called “Songs Over Time”, the record highlights George’s singing and playing on songs that he’s written over the last 30 years. It should be out by the end of summer.
Mark also was enlisted for keyboards, percussion and string arrangements on the next acoustic album by Kim Simmonds, called “Out Of The Blue”, slated for a September release.
Another string arrangement was provided by Mark for The Flashcubes on their version of The Move’s “Blackberry Way.”
And rumor has it that the long-awaited CD/5.1 DVD by Laura Austin, “Bittersweetheart”, is ready for release and will be accompanied by some actual live dates this Fall.

That’s it for now – have a glorious Summer!

Past Updates Cont:

A lot of activity going on this summer, so let’s get to it: Mark has collaborated with original Jukin’ Bone partner Joe Whiting for their first original project together in 21 years. It’s a brand new album of 12 original songs called “The Truth” and was released on June 1. Mark and Joe will be out performing together over the summer to promote the record. Confirmed dates so far are:

June 1 - The SAMMY Awards, Clinton Square, Syracuse
June 23 - Hanover Square, Syracuse, (double bill with The Kingsnakes)
July 6 – Lucky’s, Cortland
July 22 – Blues Fest, Clinton Square, Syracuse
July 29 – R ‘n B Fest, Skaneateles
August 7 – Hoopes Park, Auburn

Mark was also a special guest at the Apple Jazz Fest this year on June 2. A special event led by Charlie Bertini every year, the level of musicianship was truly superb.

Work is almost complete on the 12 AM record that has been in production for a year and a half. Mark will be in Boston at the end of July to mix the record with Mike Denneen (Fountains of Wayne, The Click Five) behind the board.

The last week of June/early July will see final recording and mixing on the Jonah Cohen album that Mark has been producing off and on over the last few years. The record should be released this Fall.

Response to The ARCHIVE STORE (the area on the site that sells vintage Free Will and Jukin’ Bone recordings) has been so great that not only are we continuing it, we have added two more titles. Click here to check it out.

Lastly, there have been many inquiries about the state of the album Mary Fahl: “From The Dark Side Of The Moon.” Sadly, the original record label has succumbed to the “restructuring” that is a rampant by-product of the state of today’s music industry. Mary’s management and all involved are doing their utmost to find a home at another label for this brilliant creation. We live in hope and will keep you updated.

That’s it for now – have a glorious Summer

Summer also saw the Jukin’ Bone reunion at the Sammy’s and the Dinosaur Barbecue. The band cut a live CD from the Dinosaur that will be held for release until this summer when more dates are planned.

Mark worked most of the Autumn on the Solstice at the Cathedral Double DVD, mixed in 5.1 Surround Sound. Finally the show has been captured in all of its glory, recorded and filmed live in 2003. It was released in December, to coincide with this year’s awesome Solstice shows at the Cathedral. New performers

featured this year were Andrew and Noah Van Norstrand, Dan Duggan, Victoria Kinney, and The Syracuse Brigadiers Drum Corps, as well as all the regular greats: Joe Whiting, Donna Colton, The Soulstice Singers, The Mandarins, Kenneth Meyer, J. Avery Head, and the fantastic orchestra featuring Jeff Stockham, Brian Scherer, Mark Nanni, Suzanne Stephenson, Matt Vacanti, Pearson Constantino, and Dave DeDiro. This marked the 5th year that Mark served as Music Director and Composer. Solstice at the Cathedral Double DVD

Recording is finished on the new disc by Laura Austin called “Bittersweetheart.” It is being packaged as two discs, one a regular CD and the other a high-resDVD-Audio in 5.1 Surround and 24-bit/88.2k that will also feature interactive lyric and video menus. Look for a Spring release.

January 2005 sees the release of the second volume of the Jimi Hendrix Tribute issued by Comet Records in Italy. It is called “Gypsy Blood – A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Volume 2.” Along with Robben Ford, Arlen Roth, Pat Travers, Hiram Bullock, Steve Lukather and many others, you can hear Mark’s version of “Little Wing.” Here is what writer Dave Thompson says about it: “And Mark Doyle draws out such a sensitive reading of “Little Wing” that Hendrix’s own greatest performance of the song, the gorgeously soaring rendition that highlighted his In The West live album, is surely the only version you could ever compare it to – hich means there’s a lot of other versions, by a lot of other people, that simply pale alongside it.”

January also sees Mark producing young singer-songwriter Jonah Cohen for an EP, and commencing work on a full album by singer Mary Fahl (October Project) that Mark is co-producing with old pal David Werner for a record label to be announced.