| Celebrating 40 years of music! 40 years! Could it really be that long? As a young man playing in garage bands in Michigan, Mark Farner worked his way up through the ranks of the local band scene and began gaining some recognition. Who would have thought then that his musical journey would span 4 decades and counting? Well, it has! Mark Farner, who came from a very talented and musical family, began his musical career at the age of 15 when his mother rented an old guitar for him after injuring his knee in a football game. It wasn’t long before he was writing and playing his own music. By the age of 20, he was playing arenas all over the world touring with his band, the now legendary, Grand Funk Railroad. As a founding member of Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner was the driving force behind the band that some have called the "grandfathers of metal". Grand Funk Railroad enjoyed major success during their heyday despite music critics of the time. Grand Funk Railroad was the first American band to have 10 consecutive Gold Albums. Grand Funk holds the record for selling out Shea Stadium in only 72 hours, faster than the Beatles! With hits such as "I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home", "Some Kind Of Wonderful", "The Locomotion" and "Heartbreaker", Grand Funk Railroad carved their niche in the history of American Rock and Roll. From 1969-1976 Grand Funk Railroad was a musical phenomenon that no other band could match. After Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner continued making music and released two solo albums between 1977 and 1978. He continued touring and released three Contemporary Christian albums between 1988 and 1991. He was also nominated for a Dove Award for his song titled "Isn’t It Amazing". Mark Farner has a long musical resume. He has worked with many renowned musicians and has been asked to tour on many all star tours such as Ringo Star’s All Star Tour and the Northwest All Star Tour. Most recently, Mark Farner participated in Volunteers for America, which raised funds for the New York Port Authority after the attacks on September 11, 2001. In 2002, Mark Farner participated in "A Walk Down Abbey Road", a tribute to the Beatles. Currently, Mark Farner is touring and recording with his current band N’rG (energy). His concerts are packed with many of the old Grand Funk Railroad songs and a few from his solo career. Mark Farner continues to present his music with the utmost of talent and showmanship. His stage presence is matched by none in the industry. Backed by a very tight band, many say that it is the closest to the original Grand Funk Railroad you can get. 40 years may have come and gone, but Mark Farner is none worse for the wear. When you attend a Mark Farner concert, if you close your eyes, you’d think it was 1969 all over again. 40 years of musical excellence, who could go wrong booking a Rock and Roll Legend?
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