In the Summer of 1995 at an event in his hometown of Alameda, Ca, Mark was invited on stage to sit in with local hotshots the Alameda All Stars. As a respected band in the Bay Area they hosted a revolving door of respected players and their reputation was strong and notorious. Occasional jams led to Mark filling in on shows and the fill-in gigs quickly morphed into a new, consistent line-up. With keyboardist Tommy Thompson, bassist Tommy Miller and drummer Preston Thrall the quartet performed frequently and the vibe was fresh and lively. Their blend of blues, rock, funk and extended jams was a different style for Mark to explore and together they harnessed a very strong chemistry. And while he didn't see this as a long term situation, the easy going nature of the band facilitated a welcomed, relaxed platform following the not stop grind of the previous decade in the Metal scene.

​

For a few years the All Stars had been working with Southern Rock icon Gregg Allman and when an audition for the guitar slot came available, Mark was invited to check it out. He quickly secured the slot and performed his debut show with Gregg Allman & Friends at Slim's in San Francisco, CA on Dec 26th, 1995. As the lead & slide guitarist with Gregg Allman & Friends, he held the position for ten years from 1995-2004 and in 2007.

​

Mark was always an original music artist, and he'd expressed his desire to write original songs with the All Stars for a full length album, but his excitement, interest and commitment was never fully reciprocated. To have captured the immense talent and chemistry brewing between them would have truly been a most special musical outing that would've documented the incredible energy and power of the band. Unfortunately, it just wasn't meant to be.

 

The All Stars were often involved in community events and causes, donating their talents and time. They were also called upon relentlessly for large scale events to backup artists such as Leslie West, Denny Laine (Moody Blues, Wings), David and Linda LaFlamme (It's A Beautiful Day) and Brian Auger to name a few.

​

By summer of 2019 with some AAS members departing and returning, the band activities had slowed and Mark's opportunities with his longtime original band Luvplanet were demanding more attention. Unfortunately Mark was then asked to choose between his commitments to the bands. This came as quite the shock following 24 years as a featured member of the All Stars. Mark wished them well and shifted his focus solely on his own music and mission!​​

Mark is appreciative for the opportunities and fond of the friendships that were made during their years together!

​