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.  In a career that spans more than three decades, Sallings spent nearly two of them asideman or working in bands that opened or shared the stage with many “Famous” artists suchas:  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 and by the timeMark was in his early 20's he was performing as a session player at Stax's Records, under the direction of Steve Cropper and Ron Capone; and by the mid-70's he was signed to Mercury Records, with the Memphis based band: 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. Imean the guy has done everything from be on the cover of Billboard Magazine in the 70’s, to appearing in at least three top ten videos in the mid 1980’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 plays harmonica,  sax, and keyboards (as well as jazz flute) decided to form his own band and because of histime spent backing up “legends, “ when he named the band, he chose a tongue in cheek moniker Famous Unknowns.Sallings, who has an international following, is well-known for his traditional, and mostly uptempo,electric-delta jump blues with undenialably  Memphis R&B and soul influences.

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 endorsded by  both Hohner Harmonicas and Peavey Electronics and is also a Premier Winner of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy and several time nominee. Sallings has a total of four CDs out, and has made a recent appearance on Jim Dickinson's new CD, The Voodoo Tigers, and Ruby Wilsson's latest release.

Salling released and independent project, which was begun in Birmingham, Alabama, but completed, at MemphisSound Works, with Engineer, Posey Hedges at the helm. The new CD Temporary Life was released in May 2005, and is getting great reviews!

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.

• 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