Mark McGrath
Encyclopedia
Mark Sayers McGrath is an American
singer of the rock band
Sugar Ray
. McGrath is also known for his work as a co-host
of Extra
, and he was the host of Don't Forget the Lyrics!
in 2010. He currently resides in Los Angeles
, California.
. Their first success came in 1997 with the song "Fly
". (for more information see: Sugar Ray
).
McGrath's personal popularity soared as he appeared on national magazine covers such as Rolling Stone and Spin. He also made numerous appearances on MTV
, VH1
, and various talk and awards shows. People
magazine named him the "Sexiest Rocker" of 1998. In 1999 McGrath was a member of the short-lived side project The Wondergirls
that included Scott Weiland
of Stone Temple Pilots
.
In 2004, he recorded a duet with country music singer, Shania Twain
for her song "Party for Two
". A country music version of the song was also recorded and released with country music singer Billy Currington
.
McGrath contributed the track "Reaching Out" on Strait Up, a tribute album to late vocalist Lynn Strait
, for whom he has a dedication tattoo to memorialize. He appeared in the video of "Angel's Son," another song written for the album (by Sevendust
) and performed with the band during their appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
television show on September 13, 2004 after a producer had noticed his work hosting various VH1
and MTV
programs and asked him to join. McGrath left the show in July 2008 to focus on his music career. He also served as a guest judge for American Idol
auditions that were aired in early 2005. McGrath received the part of Dex Lawson on The WB show Charmed
in 2005, but he ultimately turned it down due to scheduling conflicts, and he was replaced by Jason Lewis.
McGrath was the host of Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll
and Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious
.
McGrath was a Champion of Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
on VH1
. In the Finals he won against Dave Mustaine
of Megadeth
and Gary Dell'Abate
of The Howard Stern Show. He also worked as the lead singer in the Scooby Doo
movie starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar
.
McGrath began hosting the syndicated version of Don't Forget the Lyrics in September 2010.
He appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice Season 4
which premiered in March 2011, where he was fired in week six and finished in tenth place.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer of the rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray is a band from Orange County, California. The band, starting off more as an alternative metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song "Fly". This song's success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time,...
. McGrath is also known for his work as a co-host
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
of Extra
Extra (TV series)
Extra is an American entertainment television news program covering events and celebrities which debuted on September 5, 1994 in syndication. It is produced at Victory Studios in Glendale, California by Telepictures Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Distribution...
, and he was the host of Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
Don't Forget the Lyrics! is a game show that originally aired on Fox from July 11, 2007 to June 19, 2009, hosted by Wayne Brady and produced by RDF USA, part of RDF Media. The launch of this show prompted NBC to move up the launch of their similar game show The Singing Bee...
in 2010. He currently resides in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California.
Music career
McGrath began singing professionally in 1992 with a band composed of his high school friends called Shrinky Dinx (later changed to Sugar Ray). In 1994 the band signed with Atlantic recordsAtlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
. Their first success came in 1997 with the song "Fly
Fly (Sugar Ray song)
"Fly" is a song by rock band Sugar Ray. It appears on their 1997 album Floored twice: one version with reggae artist Super Cat and the other without ....
". (for more information see: Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray
Sugar Ray is a band from Orange County, California. The band, starting off more as an alternative metal band, first gained fame in 1997 with their release of the song "Fly". This song's success, coupled with its pop rock sound that was quite different from the rest of their material at the time,...
).
McGrath's personal popularity soared as he appeared on national magazine covers such as Rolling Stone and Spin. He also made numerous appearances on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
, and various talk and awards shows. People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
magazine named him the "Sexiest Rocker" of 1998. In 1999 McGrath was a member of the short-lived side project The Wondergirls
The Wondergirls
The Wondergirls were a short-lived rock supergroup and side project formed in 1999. The band featured Stone Temple Pilots frontman Scott Weiland, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray, Ian Astbury of The Cult, Shannon Leto of 30 Seconds to Mars, Jay Gordon and Ryan Shuck of Orgy and Julien-k, Doug Ardito of...
that included Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland
Scott Weiland is an American musician, lyricist, and vocalist, most notable for his work with Grammy Award-winning rock band Stone Temple Pilots. Weiland is also known for his five-year career with supergroup Velvet Revolver as well as his own solo career...
of Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots
Stone Temple Pilots is an American rock band from San Diego, California that consists of Scott Weiland , brothers Robert DeLeo and Dean DeLeo , and Eric Kretz ....
.
In 2004, he recorded a duet with country music singer, Shania Twain
Shania Twain
Shania Twain, OC is a Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Her album The Woman in Me , brought her fame and her 1997 album Come On Over, became the best-selling album of all time by a female musician in any genre, and the best-selling country album of all time. It has sold over 40 million...
for her song "Party for Two
Party for Two
"Party for Two" is a song by Canadian singer Shania Twain. It was the first single from her 2004 Greatest Hits album. The song was written by Mutt Lange and Twain. Two versions of "Party for Two" were recorded: a pop mix with Mark McGrath and a country version with Billy Currington. The song was...
". A country music version of the song was also recorded and released with country music singer Billy Currington
Billy Currington
William Matthew "Billy" Currington is an American country music artist. Signed to Mercury Nashville Records in 2003, he has released four studio albums for the label: 2003's Billy Currington, 2005's Doin' Somethin' Right, 2008's Little Bit of Everything, and 2010's Enjoy Yourself...
.
McGrath contributed the track "Reaching Out" on Strait Up, a tribute album to late vocalist Lynn Strait
Lynn Strait
James Lynn Strait was the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Snot. He died in a car accident on December 11, 1998 at the age of 30.-Biography:...
, for whom he has a dedication tattoo to memorialize. He appeared in the video of "Angel's Son," another song written for the album (by Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 1994 by bassist Vince Hornsby, drummer Morgan Rose and guitarist John Connolly. After their first demo, lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon and guitarist Clint Lowery joined the group...
) and performed with the band during their appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Television career
McGrath began his work as co-host of the ExtraExtra (TV series)
Extra is an American entertainment television news program covering events and celebrities which debuted on September 5, 1994 in syndication. It is produced at Victory Studios in Glendale, California by Telepictures Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television Distribution...
television show on September 13, 2004 after a producer had noticed his work hosting various VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
programs and asked him to join. McGrath left the show in July 2008 to focus on his music career. He also served as a guest judge for American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
auditions that were aired in early 2005. McGrath received the part of Dex Lawson on The WB show Charmed
Charmed
Charmed is an American television series that originally aired from October 7, 1998, until May 21, 2006, on the now defunct The WB Television Network. The series was created in 1998 by writer Constance M...
in 2005, but he ultimately turned it down due to scheduling conflicts, and he was replaced by Jason Lewis.
McGrath was the host of Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search For the Next Doll
Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll is the first season of Pussycat Dolls Present: that premiered on March 6, 2007 on The CW, and took place over the course of eight weeks...
and Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious
Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious
The Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious is the second and final season of Pussycat Dolls Present:, in which young aspiring female singers/dancers compete in order to claim their spots to become the group "Girlicious"...
.
McGrath was a Champion of Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy!
Rock & Roll Jeopardy! is a variant of the quiz show Jeopardy! which centered entirely around popular music. The series was hosted by Jeff Probst and ran on VH1 from August 8, 1998 to May 12, 2001. Loretta Fox was the show's announcer for the first two seasons...
on VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
. In the Finals he won against Dave Mustaine
Dave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
of Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
and Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Dell'Abate
Gary Patrick Angelo Dell'Abate , also known as "Baba Booey", is an American radio producer, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey, was released on November 2, 2010.-Early life and career:Dell'Abate was born in Uniondale, New...
of The Howard Stern Show. He also worked as the lead singer in the Scooby Doo
Scooby-Doo (film)
Scooby-Doo is a 2002 American comedy film based on the Hanna-Barbera television cartoon series Scooby-Doo about a group of young detectives and their talking dog. It is the first installment in the Scooby-Doo live action film series...
movie starring Freddie Prinze Jr. and Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
.
McGrath began hosting the syndicated version of Don't Forget the Lyrics in September 2010.
He appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice Season 4
The Apprentice (U.S. season 11)
The Celebrity Apprentice 4 is the eleventh installment of the United States version of the reality television series, The Apprentice. On May 16, 2010, NBC announced that the show would be returning to its Celebrity Apprentice format after returning to its regular version for the tenth season of...
which premiered in March 2011, where he was fired in week six and finished in tenth place.