Mark Sallings, featured artist of The Famous Unknowns, was born and raised in the Arkansas Delta just a stones throw from Memphis, Tennessee and historical Helena, Arkansas. Sallings was killed in a automobile accident on his way to a gig on February 25th, 2009, in Crawfordsville, AR. In a career that spans more than three decades, Sallings spent nearly two of them a sideman or working in bands that opened or shared the stage with many “Famous” artists such as: Albert King, B.B, King, Muddy Waters, Steve Cropper, Rufus Thomas, Steve Windwood, Joe Walsh, and Jerry Lee Lewis (just to name a few). He began playing professionally at age 14. By the time Mark was in his early 20's he had performed as a session player at Stax's Records, under the direction of Steve Cropper and Ron Capone. By the mid-70's he was signed to Mercury Records, with the The Coon Elder Band featuring Brenda Patterson. Jud Phillips of Memphis was, at the time, the VP of Mercury Records. The Coon Elder Band, although short lived, hit the cover of Billboard Magazine.
“It’s really difficult to write a short bio on some one with a career as expansive as Mark‘s. it’s basically impossible to condense that kind of a career into a few lines.” says Dick Thyer, Kansas Blues Society
In 1988 Sallings, who played harmonica, sax, and keyboards (as well as clarinet and flute) decided to form his own band and because of his time spent backing up “legends, “ he chose a tongue in cheek moniker Famous Unknowns.Sallings, is well-known for his traditional, and mostly uptempo,electric-delta jump blues Memphis R&.
The Famous Unknowns took off with a vengeance and immediately started gaining national recognition and the high energy band became the first house band at B.B. King's Blues Club in Memphis for over two years. Sallings is a Premier Winner of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. Sallings has a total of four CDs out, and an impressive discography, with one of his last guest appearance' on the late Jim Dickinson's CD, The Voodoo Tigers. Sallings also performed on one of Ruby Wilsson's last releases.
Sallings and his original band The Famous Unknowns released an independent project, Up Close and Personal and later disbanded shortly after the project was released. Sallings was then signed solo to Vent Records, out of Birmingham, Alabama and released two CDs on the label: Let it Be Known and Talkin' to Myself. His final CD was an independent project, Temporary Life. Recording for the project was started in in Birmingham, Alabama and completed, at MemphisSound Works, with Engineer, Posey Hedges at the helm. The Temporary Life was released in May 2005.
A brief history of Mark's career:
-- Early 1970's: Mark began playing as a session player at Stax Records in Memphis, TN, under the direction of Ronnie Capone and Steve Cropper. Although, he was playing on demos, the experience working with Capone and Cropper was invaluable to Mark's musical experiences.
--1977 through 1979, Mark was signed to Mercury Records (he was the band leader) with the Coon Elder Band Featuring Brenda Patterson
--1977 Mark and the Coon Elder Band were on the Cover of Billboard Magazine
--1987 Mark appeared in a Number One country video: Bonnie Jean (performer David Lynn Jones, writer of the hit country song "Living in the Promised Land, recorded by Willie Nelson, as well as other hits recorded by the likes of Merle Haggard and Randy Travis)
--1988 Mark performed on two more top ten and top twenty records with renowned writer David Lynn Jones
--1991 through 1993 Mark and his band the Famous Unknowns were the first house band, for over 2 and 1/2 years, and Mark was the band leader, at BB Kings's Club on Beale Street in Memphis, TN.
--1992 Mark received the Premier Player Award for Harmonica and Misc Instruments (sax) from the Memphis Chapter of the Grammys, he is also a Six Time Nominee, of the Memphis Chapter of the Grammy's (NARAS). He holds this position of Premier Player in the company of blues greats such as James Cotton.
--1970's: Mark also designed and taught (for 8 semesters) the first blues harmonica course in Memphis, TN., at the University of Memphis
---In 1999 Mark headlined the Thredbo Legend of Blues Festival in Thredob Australia (he also toured
around Sydney and performed at the world renowned club The Basement)
---1999 Mark performed at Blues Aid with Levon Helm, Kim Wilson, and a host of others.
---1992 Released an independent CD: Up Close and Personal while working as house band at BB Kings Blues Club. The CD received U.S and international airplay.
---1995 through 1997 and released two CDs on Vent Records that received and still receive airplay in both the U.S. and internationaly.
---1985, 1986, 1987 Mark performed on the first three Farm Aid Shows, with David Lynn Jones, where he and David Lynn performed a piano/sax version of "Living in the Promised Land" and Willie Nelson heard the song, while standing back stage, and decided to cut the tune, taking it to a number one status.
--Mark participated as a teacher and performer at the Glendora Harp Summit, in Glendora, MS: a teach-in seminar and benefit for the children of Glendora, MS
--1997 Mark opened for Little Feat for the Presidential Party: The Blue Jean Bash, at the White House.
--2006--In January, Mark recorded on a project with Jim Dickinson
--2005 Mark released an independent CD: Temporary Life, which is getting great review
--Mark has performed and continues to performe at prominent blues festivals and venues across the U.S.
A few examples are:
King Biscuit Blues Festival, Helena, AR
Bucks County Blues Festival, Levi-town, PA.,
Low Country Blues Bash, Columbia, SC.
Smoke on the Water, Pine Bluff, AR.
Osceola Music and Heritage Festival, Osceola, AR.
Spa City Blues Festival, Hot Springs, AR.
Blues on the Mississippi, St. Louis, MO.,
Diamond State Blues Festival, Delaware
Emerald Coast Blues Festival, Panama City, Fla.
Spirit Fest Kansas City, MO.
Box Car Blues Fest KC, MO.,
Delta Days Tunica, MS.
Sunflower Festival Clarksdale, MS.
Memphis in May, Memphis, TN.
July Jam Lincoln, NE.
Central Iowa Blues Fest, Desmoines, IA.
River Fest, Little Rock, AR.
The following is merely a partial list of some of the artists Mark has shared the stage with:
• Albert King
• Steve Winwood
• Willie Nelson
• Average White Band
• Rubi Wilson
• Little River Band
• Earl King
• Oakridge Boys
• James Cotton
• Kentucky Headhunters
• Kenny Neal
• Jerry Lee Lewis
• Leroy Parnell
• Levon Helm
• John Kay (Steppin' Wolf)
• Kim Wilson
• Bobby Rush
• Rufus Thomas
• Wings (Paul McCartney's Band)
• Pine Top Perkins
• Cate Brothers
• Mick Ronson (David Bowie's Guitarist)
• Ace Cannon
• Willie Big Eyes Smith
• Joe Walsh
• Gary Busey (actor)
• George Thorough Good
• Lou Diamond Phillips
• Jason D. Williams
• Zeno (Verlinda Zeno)
• Preston Shannon
• Little Jimmy King
• Michael Burks
• The Belairs
• The Nace Brothers
• T. Graham Brown
• Johnny Rivers
• Marty Stewart
