Mark A. Larkins - Biography - Solo Music Performer - "A New Wave... A New Mark...
Given Name: Mark Anthony Larkins Birth Date: December 24 Hometown: Kingsport, Tn. Height: 6'-0" Hair Color: Dk. Brown Eye Color: Blue Education: attended Northeast State Comm. College major in Drafting / Design Technology (Architectural emphasis) Attended East Tennessee State University Marital status: Single Hobbies include: Swimming, snorkeling, travel, Artistic painting, boating, cycling, fishing, golfing, karaoke, and dancing.
TV Appearances: WJHL TV11 Cable Country interview March, 2005 WCYB TV5 noon interview with Johnny Wood, December, 2005 My Spirit and Background: I play for a fun audience and the music helps them remember the fun times in their lives…as well as my own.. Although born in Tennessee, I spent most of my childhood growing up in California in the area around La Pointe/West Covena where my love for the ocean and beach music was instilled. The west coast was great.. Hearing groups like:The Beach Boys, and visiting places like: Pacific Ocean Park, DisneyLand, and Knott's Berry Farm..
	My family moved back to the Tri-Cities, Tn, when I was about 11 years old, and this is still my current hometown, although the love of the ocean and beach is still deeply ingrained in my soul, always calling to me. Beginning… At the age of 11, my Dad bought me my first guitar and, after hearing me attempt to play it, immediately signed me up for lessons. Where I learned guitar and music theory..I played my first gig at the age of 13 at the Fox Theatre in Kingsport, Tn. and have continued to enjoy the stage since. Other instruments include: Fiddle, 5 string Banjo, Mandolin, Bass guitar, Piano, and steel drums.. The Rewards and Recognition… My debut CD entitled "All Or Not At All" was released in 2000. In 2001, I was awarded the Horizon Award for Male Vocalist of the Year, Male Entertainer of the Year, Instrumentalist of the Year, in the category of New Country by the North America Country Music Association Int'l (NACMAI). If you wish to order a copy of this CD, please email

The Path Forward… Soon after winning the NACMAI awards in 2001, I changed musical direction and pursued the love of my heart, beach/ island music which has taken me to some exciting and exotic places such as Key Colony Beach, Fl, North Miami Beach, Fl, Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Myrtle Beach, SC. and Key West, Florida. Though I still enjoy performing at home here in the Tri-Cities at various Restaurants and marina venues. The excitement of performing is just as great at home as it is abroad.

My Philosophy… My love for tropical music is from within, this passion to be at the ocean, with the palm trees, and Sunny climate is what I thrive on. If I can convey this spirt to my audience while on stage then I can bring a small Bit of fun to their lives.. and let the music take their thoughts away for a moment.. I enjoy songwriting success in country music as well as current beach and tropical songs. In my current beach song "Why Not Today," I have expressed my passion to leave, pull up stakes and go live on an island And… why not? By the logic that you have to wait. But wait for what?

Further in my searing ballad "Your Love Won't Set Me Free," I utilized a haunting minor chord arrangement, that sets the stage for a true love that can't end…it still goes on…without release.

Music is the Celebration of Life… and all that goes with living it to the fullest. I feel that the music takes me away…to a better place in time. To where my spirit can soar free …. I really enjoy leisure vacationing to wonderful places, such as: Key West, Fl. Playa Del Carmen, Mexico, Costume, Mexico, Montero Bay Jamaica, And would look forward to the chance to visit California in the future. As I love to fly… My first CD release effort "All or Not at All," was a breakthrough for me as a singer/songwriter, I wrote all selections, I received recognition as a songwriter, as well as a singer… by the: North America Country Music Association Int'l (NACMAI). This c.d. effort was made possible by close companion and producer Cheryl A. Brown… whose contributions will never be forgotten.. Thanks so much, Cheryl!

The Road ahead Now… I am currently unmarried, and devoting much of my time to songwriting and performing live at various venues. In and out of the Tri- cities…with hopes of a New C.D. release in the future... Beach/Tropical music theme. I am involved in performing for Charity events in the tri-cities such as, The Salvation Army, Bristol, Tenn. and the American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" event. Also have been involved with Greyhound Rescue of Tennessee. Their featured event: Beach Bound Hounds 2004 in Myrtle Beach, SC... I enjoy spending quality time with my family…two beautiful and talented daughters, my Mother, and two sisters and the rest of the gang.

I have a deep interest in Art, as an artist I had the opportunity to paint a full color room mural in 2004, in Bristol, Tn. A vista of an Island evening sunset … on all walls and ceiling... for a true lover of the islands, it turned out well and took a tremendous amount of time.. And I left a large portion of myself In the effort… but was worth it…
A new wave... a New Mark... You never know where the music will take you next...and you never know what the tide will bring in…with each new day…. Have I ever learned this.. In 2005! What a year of changes for myself as a person. But with all changes a person must try to find some hope in it…some good, some new direction..
	As a "Solo musician entertainer" on stage, I quite simply enjoy the music as it comes from my heart and do my best to relay these feelings and emotions to others through the songs I perform on stage. That is what is meant by my catch phrase: "A new wave..a new Mark"….. I will continue to change and grow as a musician as well as a person With whatever the next wave of life may bring…as long as I can stay Dynamic.. perhaps I will never grow old… at least not in my heart… Someone once asked me in an interview, "Wouldn't you like to make it Mark?" I replied, "If I can play the music I love, and perform at different islands and beaches and be near the ocean…that's what is important to me.. and as long as I can do that, and have the fans enjoying themselves…. Then... I have made it."

I Thank all the fans and audience whom without, I would not get to do what I love so passionately, sing and play guitar…

Hope to see you on the next gig, down the road somewhere!

Credits/Acknowledgements:

Website Design: Antanet.com Photography Biography insert pic (mark on bench): Earl Carter Photography All other inserts: Cheryl A. Brown Music Repertoire / wardrobe advisor: Cheryl A. Brown Personal Manager: Cheryl A. Brown Stage Manager: Harold D. Smith Printing/Graphics: Universal Printing Bristol, Va.

T Shirts/design printing: Screen Acres Garment Printers Kingsport, Tn. Recording Studios used: Classic Recording Bristol, Va. Rising Star Recording Studio, Bristol, Va. New Hope Recording Kingsport, Tenn.

Awards & Accomplishments: NACMAI (North America Country Music Associations Int'l.) Catagory:New Country "Male entertainer of the year" 2001 "Horizon Award": Male vocalist of the year 2001 "Instrumentalist of the year" 2001
DEBUT CD: "All Or Not At All" Debut CD released in 2000	The site is regularly updated with new apperances, events, dates and venues so please come back soon. Further Information: Visit the Schedule page to see Mark's forthcoming events - venues - appearances and much much more... Visit the Songs page to hear Mark's original songs...