John Mark Heard (December 16, 1951 - August 16, 1992) was a
record producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
,
folk-rockFolk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
singer, and
songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
originally from
Macon, GeorgiaMacon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 85 miles south of Atlanta, hence the...
.
Mark Heard released 16 records in his lifetime, and produced and performed with many other artists as well, such as
Sam PhillipsLeslie Ann Phillips, aka Sam Phillips is an American singer and a songwriter.-Biography:Philips, who was born in Glendale, California, began her musical career as a vocalist in the early 1980s, singing background parts for Christian artists Mark Heard, Randy Stonehill and others...
(aka Leslie Phillips),
Pierce PettisPierce Pettis is an American singer/songwriter from Alabama.- Biography :A former staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville, Pettis' musical career was started in 1979 when Joan Baez covered one of his songs, "Song at the End of the Movie", on her album Honest Lullaby...
,
Phil KeaggyPhilip Tyler Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
,
Vigilantes of LoveVigilantes of Love is a rock band fronted by Bill Mallonee with a large number of secondary players drawn from the musician pool in and around Athens, Georgia...
,
Peter BuckPeter Lawrence Buck is the guitarist and co-founder, along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, of the alternative rock band R.E.M....
of
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
(who co-produced VOL's album
Killing Floor with Heard),
John Austin- Background :Austin was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and grew up as the son of a preacher in Fairfax, Virginia. At age 19 he set off for Chicago and began performing his songs in the city's subway stations, coffee houses and nightclubs....
,
The ChoirThe Choir is an atmospheric Christian alternative rock band, led by Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums—who also writes most of the band's lyrics—as well as Tim Chandler on bass, Dan Michaels on lyricon, electric flute, didgeridoo and saxophone and Marc Byrd on guitar,...
,
Randy StonehillRandy Stonehill is an American singer/songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music." His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on new wave, pop...
and Michael Been of
The CallThe Call was an American rock band from Santa Cruz, California active from 1980 to 2000.-Biography:The Call formed in Santa Cruz in 1980 by vocalist/guitarist Michael Been, Scott Musick, and Tom Ferrier. Been and Musick were originally from Oklahoma...
. Heard produced part of
Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a British-born, Australian-raised singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 albums...
's
The Rumor, which also included a cover of Heard's own "Big and Strong" (originally called "How To Grow Up Big And Strong").
After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1974 with an ABJ (bachelor of arts in journalism) degree in television, Heard travelled to
SwitzerlandSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
to study at
L'AbriL'Abri is an evangelical Christian organization founded by Francis Schaeffer and his wife Edith in Huemoz-sur-Ollon, Switzerland on June 5, 1955...
under the influential evangelical Christian philosopher
Francis SchaefferFrancis August Schaeffer was an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland...
.
John Mark Heard (December 16, 1951 - August 16, 1992) was a
record producerIn the music industry, a record producer has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes...
,
folk-rockFolk rock is a musical genre, combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
singer, and
songwriterA songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics, as well as the musical composition or melody to songs. One who writes only lyrics is a lyricist, while one who writes only music is a composer.-History and background of songwriters:...
originally from
Macon, GeorgiaMacon is a city located in central Georgia, USA. It is among the largest metropolitan areas in Georgia, and the county seat of Bibb County. A small portion of the city extends into Jones County. It lies near the geographic center of Georgia, approximately 85 miles south of Atlanta, hence the...
.
Mark Heard released 16 records in his lifetime, and produced and performed with many other artists as well, such as
Sam PhillipsLeslie Ann Phillips, aka Sam Phillips is an American singer and a songwriter.-Biography:Philips, who was born in Glendale, California, began her musical career as a vocalist in the early 1980s, singing background parts for Christian artists Mark Heard, Randy Stonehill and others...
(aka Leslie Phillips),
Pierce PettisPierce Pettis is an American singer/songwriter from Alabama.- Biography :A former staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville, Pettis' musical career was started in 1979 when Joan Baez covered one of his songs, "Song at the End of the Movie", on her album Honest Lullaby...
,
Phil KeaggyPhilip Tyler Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
,
Vigilantes of LoveVigilantes of Love is a rock band fronted by Bill Mallonee with a large number of secondary players drawn from the musician pool in and around Athens, Georgia...
,
Peter BuckPeter Lawrence Buck is the guitarist and co-founder, along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, of the alternative rock band R.E.M....
of
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
(who co-produced VOL's album
Killing Floor with Heard),
John Austin- Background :Austin was born in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and grew up as the son of a preacher in Fairfax, Virginia. At age 19 he set off for Chicago and began performing his songs in the city's subway stations, coffee houses and nightclubs....
,
The ChoirThe Choir is an atmospheric Christian alternative rock band, led by Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums—who also writes most of the band's lyrics—as well as Tim Chandler on bass, Dan Michaels on lyricon, electric flute, didgeridoo and saxophone and Marc Byrd on guitar,...
,
Randy StonehillRandy Stonehill is an American singer/songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music." His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on new wave, pop...
and Michael Been of
The CallThe Call was an American rock band from Santa Cruz, California active from 1980 to 2000.-Biography:The Call formed in Santa Cruz in 1980 by vocalist/guitarist Michael Been, Scott Musick, and Tom Ferrier. Been and Musick were originally from Oklahoma...
. Heard produced part of
Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a British-born, Australian-raised singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 albums...
's
The Rumor, which also included a cover of Heard's own "Big and Strong" (originally called "How To Grow Up Big And Strong").
History
After graduating from the University of Georgia in 1974 with an ABJ (bachelor of arts in journalism) degree in television, Heard travelled to
SwitzerlandSwitzerland , officially the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 states named cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities...
to study at
L'AbriL'Abri is an evangelical Christian organization founded by Francis Schaeffer and his wife Edith in Huemoz-sur-Ollon, Switzerland on June 5, 1955...
under the influential evangelical Christian philosopher
Francis SchaefferFrancis August Schaeffer was an American Evangelical Christian theologian, philosopher, and Presbyterian pastor. He is most famous for his writings and his establishment of the L'Abri community in Switzerland...
. Singers
Larry NormanLarry David Norman was an American Christian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and humorist. Norman's recordings are noted for their Christian and social subject matter, and he is often described as the "father of Christian rock music"...
and
Randy StonehillRandy Stonehill is an American singer/songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music." His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on new wave, pop...
literally stumbled onto Mark one day playing his guitar. Norman was so impressed by Heard's abilities that he soon signed him to his record label,
Solid Rock RecordsSolid Rock Records is the record label of Larry Norman. It was set up in 1975 to distribute his own work, after he had been released by Capitol Records. Solid Rock had a distribution deal with Word Records until 1980....
. Heard and his wife Janet moved to
Glendale, CaliforniaGlendale is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It lies at the eastern end of the San Fernando Valley, is bisected by the Verdugo Mountains, and is a suburb in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
in 1977 to begin work on his
Appalachian MelodyAppalachian Melody is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1979 on Solid Rock Records.-Side one:# "On the Radio"# "Castaway"# "Bless My Soul"# "Here I Am "# "With the Setting Sun"# "Appalachian Melody"-Side two:...
album for the label, but would also maintain a close relationship with the people at the L'Abri for years. Heard would also record and release
FingerprintFingerprint is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in Europe, in 1980 on Palmfrond Communications.Heard would later name his record label, Fingerprint Records, and home studio, Fingerprint Recorders, after this album.-Side one:...
on a Swiss label in 1980.
In 1981, Heard began a recording contract with
Chris ChristianChris Christian is a songwriter, record producer, and a record label executive. His songs have been recorded by Elvis Presley, Olivia Newton-John, Natalie Cole, Sheena Easton, The Pointer Sisters, Al Jarreau,The Carpenters, Patti Austin, Dionne Warwick, Amy Grant, The Imperials, Sandi Patty, Ali...
's
Home Sweet Home RecordsHome Sweet Home Records is a record label, based in Dallas, Texas.Home Sweet Home was founded in 1981, in Nashville, Tennessee, by Grammy Award Winning Producer & Singer/Songwriter Chris Christian...
. Although Mark's sales did not attract attention from the Major Christian Labels, Christian felt Mark's music was unique and fresh and deserved to be heard and funded his projects with no production oversight which Mark wanted. His signing to the label was a departure from the commercial Artist that Chris traditionally signed and produced on the Home Sweet Home label. Heard released five albums for the label; 1981's
Stop the DominoesStop The Dominoes is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1981 on Home Sweet Home Records.-Side one:# "One Of the Dominoes"# "Stranded At the Station"# "You Could Lie To Me"# "One Night Stand"# "I'm Crying Again"-Side two:...
, 1982's
Victims of the AgeVictims of the Age is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1982 on Home Sweet Home Records."Heart Of Hearts" later became a hit on Christian Radio when it was covered by Leslie Phillips....
; 1983's
Eye of the Storm; 1984's
Ashes and LightAshes and Light is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1984 on Home Sweet Home Records.This is the first album that Heard recorded at his own studio, Fingerprint Recorders."This album is dedicated to the memory of Francis A...
; and 1985's
MosaicsMosaics is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1985 on Home Sweet Home Records.-The Album Cover:The cover art included a mosaic of a photo of Heard. The photo was cut up into tiny squares. Each square section was then sent to various friends, musicians and onlookers to paint or...
. The overall experience was not one that Heard enjoyed, partly due to his personal experiences with record company executives, and partly due to compromises he felt under pressure to make in order to make himself and his songs more marketable to Christian audiences.
In 1984, Heard began recording in his home studio, which he dubbed "
Fingerprint RecordersFingerprint Recorders was a recording studio owned by Mark Heard, where he recorded most of his own records. The studio was located in Montrose, California....
," after the title of one of his earlier records. From that point on, his albums were largely made at home, with just a handful of friends and relatives lending a hand. In 1986, Heard decided to try something a little different and recorded the experimental Pop/Rock album for
What? RecordsWhat? Records was a short-lived record label started by Word Records and A&M Records, intended to focus on creative and unusual rock 'n roll records with spiritual messages....
entitled
Tribal OperaTribal Opera is the title of an album by Mark Heard , released in 1987 on What? Records.Both Rich Mullins and Olivia Newton-John would later cover "How To Grow Up Big and Strong" on their own albums.-Side one:...
, under the name
iDEoLA. When asked about the unusual name, Heard replied "It's not supposed to be mysterious or anything; I just put a band together and right now I happen to be the only one in it." Heard also directed a music video for the single of that album, "Is It Any Wonder."
With the formation of
Fingerprint RecordsFingerprint Records is an independent record label formed in 1990 by Mark Heard and Dan Russell.The label went on to release not only Heard's albums, but also albums by The Call, The Vigilantes of Love, Ramona Silver, bob., as well as two tribute albums to Heard after his death in 1992.Heard also...
and his studio, Heard began to produce albums for a number of artists including two albums for
Randy StonehillRandy Stonehill is an American singer/songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music." His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on new wave, pop...
,
Jacob's TroubleJacob's Trouble was an American, Christian, rock and roll band formed in Atlanta, Georgia area in the 1980s. The group originally consisted of members Jerry Davison , Mark Blackburn , and Steve Atwell , with Davison and Blackburn handling the lead vocals.-Biography:In 1989, Jacob's Trouble released...
,
Pierce PettisPierce Pettis is an American singer/songwriter from Alabama.- Biography :A former staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville, Pettis' musical career was started in 1979 when Joan Baez covered one of his songs, "Song at the End of the Movie", on her album Honest Lullaby...
and 1992's
Vigilantes of LoveVigilantes of Love is a rock band fronted by Bill Mallonee with a large number of secondary players drawn from the musician pool in and around Athens, Georgia...
album,
Killing Floor, which he co-produced with
R.E.M.R.E.M. is an American rock band formed in Athens, Georgia, in 1980 by Michael Stipe , Peter Buck , Mike Mills , and Bill Berry . R.E.M. was one of the first popular alternative rock bands, and gained early attention due to Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M...
's
Peter BuckPeter Lawrence Buck is the guitarist and co-founder, along with Bill Berry, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe, of the alternative rock band R.E.M....
. Stonehill's
Until We Have WingsUntil We Have Wings is the title of an album by Randy Stonehill, released in 1990, on Myrrh Records.-Side One :# "Faithful" – 3:24# "Didn't It Rain" – 6:11# "Born to Love" – 4:27...
including a song co-written by Heard, "Faithful," although the CD liner notes credit the song to Heard's pseudonym
Giovanni Audiori.
The early 1990s saw a return to recording albums of his own, with 1990's
Dry Bones DanceDry Bones Dance is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1990, the first to be released on his own Fingerprint Records.This album was listed at #29 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music .-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Heard.# "Rise From The Ruins"...
. Fans and reviewers alike hailed the new release as one of the best of his career. Heard followed
Dry Bones Dance with
Second HandSecond Hand is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1991, on Heard's own Fingerprint Records.At the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, the Ryman Auditorium September 2005, Buddy Miller received the Album of the Year Award for his Universal United House of Prayer,...
in 1991, and, finally,
Satellite SkySatellite Sky is the title of the final album by Mark Heard, released in 1992, on Heard's own Fingerprint Records, shortly before his death....
in 1992, which would turn out to be his final release.
On July 4 1992, Heard had a heart attack on stage while performing with Pierce Pettis and Kate Miner, at the
Cornerstone FestivalCornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
, near
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and with more than 2.8 million people, the 3rd largest city in the United States...
. Heard finished his set and went to the hospital immediately afterwards. Two weeks after being released from the hospital, Heard had a
cardiac arrestA cardiac arrest, also known as cardiopulmonary arrest or circulatory arrest, is the abrupt cessation of normal circulation of the blood due to failure of the heart to contract effectively during systole....
and died on August 16th of 1992. Before Heard's death, he had been included on the
Legacy IILegacy: A Collection of New Folk Music and Legacy II: A Collection of Singer-songwriters are a pair of compilations that were released by Windham Hill Records in 1989 and 1992 respectively to introduce listeners to a new crop of young singer-songwriters.- Legacy: A Collection of New Folk Music :The...
sampler from Windham Hill's
High StreetHigh Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities in the United Kingdom...
label, and was nearly finalizing a mainstream contract with
Bruce CockburnBruce Douglas Cockburn, OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His 29th album was released in summer 2006, and he has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
's label,
True North RecordsTrue North Records is a Canadian independent record label. It was founded in Missisauga, Ontario in 1969 by Bernie Finkelstein. On December 17, 2007, True North was acquired by an investment group led by Linus Entertainment...
in
CanadaCanada is a country occupying most of northern North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. There was also interest from
Sonyis a multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, and one of the world's largest media conglomerates with revenue exceeding ¥ 7.730.0 trillion, or $78.88 billion U.S. . Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of electronics, video, communications, video game...
's
Columbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label founded in 1888.Columbia is the oldest surviving brand name in pre-recorded sound, being the first record company to produce pre-recorded records as opposed to blank cylinders. Columbia Records went on to release records by an array of notable singers,...
label for distribution in the US.
Tributes & Influence
In 1994, many artists came together to record a tribute album called
Strong Hand of Love. Artists lending their talents to the project included
Phil KeaggyPhilip Tyler Keaggy is an American acoustic and electric guitarist and vocalist who has released more than 50 albums and contributed to many more recordings in both the contemporary Christian music and mainstream markets...
,
Victoria WilliamsVictoria Williams is an American singer/songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career...
,
Chagall GuevaraChagall Guevara was an American rock band formed in 1989 by solo artist Steve Taylor, guitarists Dave Perkins and Lynn Nichols , bassist Wade Jaynes, and drummer Mike Mead....
,
Buddy MillerBuddy Miller is a country singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and producer, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee...
,
Julie MillerJulie Miller is a songwriter, singer, and recording artist currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Julie Miller has been married to Buddy Miller for 20 years...
,
Daniel AmosDaniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include Bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and Drummer Ed McTaggart...
,
The ChoirThe Choir is an atmospheric Christian alternative rock band, led by Derri Daugherty on guitar and vocals, Steve Hindalong on drums—who also writes most of the band's lyrics—as well as Tim Chandler on bass, Dan Michaels on lyricon, electric flute, didgeridoo and saxophone and Marc Byrd on guitar,...
,
Bruce CockburnBruce Douglas Cockburn, OC is a Canadian folk/rock guitarist and singer-songwriter. His 29th album was released in summer 2006, and he has written songs in styles ranging from folk to jazz-influenced rock to rock and roll.-Biography:...
, and the Vigilantes of Love. The project was later reissued as a two-CD set with additional tracks and retitled
Orphans of God. Cockburn frequently calls Heard his favorite songwriter and even wrote and recorded a song dedicated to Heard for his
Dart To The Heart album, "Closer To The Light."
Daniel AmosDaniel Amos is a rock band formed in 1974 by Terry Scott Taylor on guitars and vocals, Marty Dieckmeyer on bass guitar, Steve Baxter on guitars and Jerry Chamberlain on lead guitars. Current members include Bassist Tim Chandler, guitarist Greg Flesch and Drummer Ed McTaggart...
dedicated their album
MotorCycleMotorCycle is the title of a 1993 album by rock band Daniel Amos, released on BAI Records. The album was dedicated to the memory of songwriter Mark Heard.MotorCycle is a lush, pop rock album, which marked the return of longtime D.A...
to Heard in 1993, and
The Swirling EddiesThe Swirling Eddies are a band that began as an anonymous spinoff from the band Daniel Amos, along with new drummer David Raven.For each Swirling Eddies release, band members adopted pseudonyms for the liner notes; "Camarillo Eddy" , "Berger Roy Al" , "Gene Pool" , "Arthur Fhardy" , "Spot" , and...
dedicated
Zoom DaddyZoom Daddy is the title of the third album by rock band The Swirling Eddies, released in 1994 on Alarma Records.The Swirling Eddies dropped their pseudonyms for this album, listing their real names in the credits.The album was dedicated to Mark Heard....
to Heard the same year.
Julie MillerJulie Miller is a songwriter, singer, and recording artist currently living in Nashville, Tennessee. Julie Miller has been married to Buddy Miller for 20 years...
also wrote a song in tribute to Heard called "All My Tears" which has also been recorded by
Jars of ClayJars of Clay is a Grammy Award winning Christian rock band from Franklin, Tennessee. They met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois....
,
Emmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American country singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists.-...
(studio and live versions) and
SelahSelah is a word used frequently in the Hebrew Bible, often in the Psalms and is a difficult concept to translate. It should not be confused with the Hebrew word Sela which means "rock"....
with
Kim HillKim Hill is a Contemporary Christian Music singer. Aside from her career as a solo artist, Hill has also sung background vocals on projects by artists like Rich Mullins and others...
.
In 2000, a group of fans gathered together to help Fingerprint Records release
Mystery MindMystery Mind is the title of a posthumous album by Mark Heard, released in 2000 on Fingerprint Records.This collection of never before heard interviews and demos by Mark Heard was originally intended as a prerelease EP, paving the way for a full length collection of more unreleased music that was...
, the first collection of previously unreleased material from the songwriter. There were plans to release a full length collection that same year, but those plans never came to fruition.
In 2002, the Cornerstone Music Festival held a songwriting contest in honor of Heard. The following year, Paste Magazine released
Hammers and Nails, a CD of previously unreleased recordings by Heard. An authorized biography of the same name was also released by Cornerstone Press, written by Matthew Dickerson.
The Americana Music Association held its annual Americana Honors and Awards Show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, September 2005. The Song of the Year Award was presented to the late Mark Heard for "Worry Too Much" (originally featured on Heard's 1991 release
Second HandSecond Hand is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1991, on Heard's own Fingerprint Records.At the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, the Ryman Auditorium September 2005, Buddy Miller received the Album of the Year Award for his Universal United House of Prayer,...
).
Buddy MillerBuddy Miller is a country singer, songwriter, musician, recording artist and producer, currently living in Nashville, Tennessee...
, who performed the track on his latest release
Universal United House of Prayer, accepted the award on behalf of Heard. As well Miller received the award for Album of the Year for
Universal United House of Prayer.
In Paste Magazine #22 June/July 2006 - a Special Collector's Issue featuring the 100 Best Living Songwriters - Mark Heard was remembered as well under the heading
Wish You Were Here: "Mark Heard's lyrics are weighted with such a wry longing that they'll forever reflect a fresh turbulence."
On 16 December 2007, a new collection of Solid Rock era Demos was announced, to be entitled:
The Lost Artifacts of an American Poet.
Discography
- Setting Yesterday Free
Setting Yesterday Free is the title of the first and only album by a band called Infinity+3. It happens to be the first recorded appearance by songwriter Mark Heard...
with Infinity+3, 1970/1972 album
- Mark Heard, 1975 album
- On Turning To Dust
Mark Heard is the title of the first solo album by Mark Heard, originally released in 1975, and rereleased as On Turning To Dust on Solid Rock Records in 1978....
, 1978 album (Reissue of Mark Heard)
- Appalachian Melody
Appalachian Melody is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1979 on Solid Rock Records.-Side one:# "On the Radio"# "Castaway"# "Bless My Soul"# "Here I Am "# "With the Setting Sun"# "Appalachian Melody"-Side two:...
, 1979 album
- Fingerprint
Fingerprint is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in Europe, in 1980 on Palmfrond Communications.Heard would later name his record label, Fingerprint Records, and home studio, Fingerprint Recorders, after this album.-Side one:...
, 1980 album
- Stop the Dominoes
Stop The Dominoes is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1981 on Home Sweet Home Records.-Side one:# "One Of the Dominoes"# "Stranded At the Station"# "You Could Lie To Me"# "One Night Stand"# "I'm Crying Again"-Side two:...
, 1981 album
- Victims of the Age
Victims of the Age is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1982 on Home Sweet Home Records."Heart Of Hearts" later became a hit on Christian Radio when it was covered by Leslie Phillips....
, 1982 album
- Eye of the Storm, 1983 album
- Ashes and Light
Ashes and Light is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1984 on Home Sweet Home Records.This is the first album that Heard recorded at his own studio, Fingerprint Recorders."This album is dedicated to the memory of Francis A...
, 1984 album
- Mosaics
Mosaics is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1985 on Home Sweet Home Records.-The Album Cover:The cover art included a mosaic of a photo of Heard. The photo was cut up into tiny squares. Each square section was then sent to various friends, musicians and onlookers to paint or...
, 1985 album
- Tribal Opera
Tribal Opera is the title of an album by Mark Heard , released in 1987 on What? Records.Both Rich Mullins and Olivia Newton-John would later cover "How To Grow Up Big and Strong" on their own albums.-Side one:...
, 1987 album (as iDEoLA)
- Dry Bones Dance
Dry Bones Dance is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1990, the first to be released on his own Fingerprint Records.This album was listed at #29 in the book CCM Presents: The 100 Greatest Albums in Christian Music .-Track listing:All songs written by Mark Heard.# "Rise From The Ruins"...
, 1990 album
- Second Hand
Second Hand is the title of an album by Mark Heard, released in 1991, on Heard's own Fingerprint Records.At the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, the Ryman Auditorium September 2005, Buddy Miller received the Album of the Year Award for his Universal United House of Prayer,...
, 1991 album
- Satellite Sky
Satellite Sky is the title of the final album by Mark Heard, released in 1992, on Heard's own Fingerprint Records, shortly before his death....
, 1992 album
- High Noon
High Noon is the title of "Best of" and rarities collection by Mark Heard, released in 1993, on Heard's own Fingerprint Records.The album consists of primarily tracks from Heard's final three albums, 1990's Dry Bones Dance, 1991's Second Hand and 1993's Satellite Sky...
, 1993 "best of" album
- Mystery Mind
Mystery Mind is the title of a posthumous album by Mark Heard, released in 2000 on Fingerprint Records.This collection of never before heard interviews and demos by Mark Heard was originally intended as a prerelease EP, paving the way for a full length collection of more unreleased music that was...
, 2000 album
- Hammers and Nails, 2003 collection of previously unreleased demos
- The Lost Artifacts Of An American Poet, 2007 collection of previously unreleased demos
- The Lost Artifacts Of An American Poet - PART II, 2008 collection of previously unreleased demos
Compilations
- Adventures in the land of big beats and happy feets, 1989 compilation, includes previously unreleased song by iDEoLA
- At The Foot Of The Cross, Volume One Clouds, Rain, Fire, 1991, Mark performs "My Redeemer Lives."
- Mark Heard Greatest Hits, Home Sweet Home Records, www.markheard.com "
- Reflections of A Former Life, www.markheard.com "
- Acoustic Best of Mark Heard, www.markheard.com "
Tribute Albums
- Strong Hand of Love
Strong Hand of Love: A Tribute to Mark Heard is a compilation of songs by various artists in tribute to songwriter, Mark Heard.Recorded and released in 1994, after Heard's death in 1992. Proceeds benefit the Heard Family Fund....
: A Tribute to Mark Heard, Various Artists 1994 tribute album
- Orphans of God
Orphans of God is a 2 CD compilation of songs performed by various artists in tribute to songwriter Mark Heard.Recorded and released after Heard's death in 1992, proceeds benefit the Heard Family Fund....
: A Tribute to Mark Heard, Various Artists 1996 tribute album
External links
Videos
- An animated tribute video featuring Mark Heard's "Lonely Moon"
- The "Treasure of the Broken Land" video
- The "Is It Any Wonder" video (iDEoLA)
- A music video by Buddy Miller - a cover of Mark Heard's "Worry Too Much"
- Emmylou Harris featuring Buddy & Julie Miller - Live in Concert, covering Julie Miller's "All My Tears", a Mark Heard tribute
- Bob Bennett with Bruce Carroll and Buddy Greene - Live in Concert covering "Heart of Hearts" at 1992 Tribute (Nashville)