Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Berry
Hi Mark, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was raised on a ranch/farm down on the outskirts of Edinburg, Tx. I started playing music at a young age. I did the whole band thing in school as a trumpet player and after I graduated high school in 2008, I immediately started playing professionally in several bands. I was also a vocal major in college so that’s where I really started to question my musical path. It took me a while to realize that I was burning myself out as a trumpet player and that it wasn’t much fun for me anymore. I joined a singing club in college and from there I met some of the members of my first band. We were a variety band that played all the bar music, Those were definitely some of the most fun times in my life but I never really felt like I could settle down as my heart always leaned towards country music. Country music is what I was raised on and what I listened to on the daily. After hopping around with different bands and playing different instruments, I got an offer to go on tour, playing bass, with a well known Texas country band in 2018. That’s where my country music career started. All of the things I learned and experienced, all of the connections Ive made, started as a bass player. That’s where I learned that if I wanted to make a name for myself, I needed to take singing and songwriting seriously and treat it like a business. So I started writing songs and eventually went off on my own with my own band. Since then it’s been pedal to the metal. I started my band in 2022 and since then we’ve released an album and a single out to all streaming platforms, we’ve hit the top 5 on the internet radio charts, and are charting on all the other Texas music charts. This is a never ending game and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead in the future.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has most definitely not been a smooth road. Keeping a band together is also not as easy as it seems. Ive been blessed to have some guys that have stuck around with me for a long time. But when one of those members leaves and we have to start over at that position, it’s back to square one really. the “show” goes out the wind0w and it turns into a rebuilding process. The music business is also really expensive and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart. The reason we named the album “All On Our Own”is really because we did everything on our own internally. Sponsors seem to be a big part of some bands financial backing, and that’s awesome for them, but as for us, we didn’t have any of that. We recorded our own parts and we paid for everything ourselves. I would say the expenses are the biggest obstacle we’ve faced was a band.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Well, to make it simple, I’m the guy that sings on stage. But there’s so much more that goes along with it. Theres obviously the music side, but there’s a whole other business side to it. Unfortunately the business side is way more important than the music side but honestly, it would take me all day to explain. For now I’ll explain some of the music side. My job is to sing, play guitar, perform on stage, and to make your experience memorable and enjoyable. I also write the majority of the songs. There are some songs we have, that I haven’t written, and some songs that Ive written with other writers. Im pretty proud of one of my songs going all the way up to #2 on the Texas Internet Radio Charts. I think what sets us apart is the fact that we are a “band.” A lot of artists have “hired guns” in their band, which is not bad at all, but I think that sometimes takes away from having the chemistry of being with guys that are connected. You can really tell the difference on stage when guys are up there for themselves, and when guys are up there as a unit.
We’re always looking for the lessons that can be learned in any situation, including tragic ones like the Covid-19 crisis. Are there any lessons you’ve learned that you can share?
Yea I have! I got covid pretty bad when the first wave hit in 2020. WASH YOUR HANDS.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://markberrymusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markberryband
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MarkBerrymusic/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6tv1C4nrFepPzJT9pY35HB?si=ANiVl9lYSTmqjYJCMjD6mg
