James Mark

Dr. James Mark is an American-born conductor, clarinetist, saxophonist, arranger and educator based in Canada. He is Conductor of Musica Viva New Brunswick, Conductor Emeritus of the Prince Edward Island Symphony Orchestra and appears frequently as guest conductor with a number of orchestras and wind ensembles. Additionally, he was Principal Conductor of the New Brunswick Youth Orchestra from 1982–83 and again from 1994–2010, making it "one of the best youth orchestras in Canada". James Mark is Professor Emeritus of Music at Mount Allison University, where he taught clarinet, saxophone, instrumental conducting and secondary music education for more than twenty years. He was also director of the Mount Allison Symphonic Band and mentor to the CMEA award winning Saxville Quartet. He continues to be in demand as an adjudicator and clinician. He performs regularly on clarinet and saxophone and has appeared across Canada and the United States with numerous regional, national and international broadcasts. Dr. Mark holds the Bachelor of Music from the Eastman School of Music (1961), the Master of Music from Hartt College of Music (1969) and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan (1978). He is also an Associate of the Royal College of Music, London, where he was twice awarded (1962, 1963) the Arthur Somervell Prize for Wind Instruments by HRH Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Dr. Mark has been a member of the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. and taught music at the high school level in Massachusetts.

Mark James

Mark James may refer to:

See also

Mark James (songwriter)

Mark James (born Francis Rodney Zambon, 1940) is an American songwriter, well known for writing hits for singers B.J. Thomas, Brenda Lee, and Elvis Presley, most notably Presley's last U.S. number one hit single, "Suspicious Minds."

Early life

Mark James was born in Houston, Texas, in 1940. James befriended B.J. Thomas while both were still young.

Career

1967-1969: Career beginnings and Songwriting

By the late 1960s, James was signed as a staff songwriter to Memphis producer Chips Moman’s publishing company, Moman producing Thomas’ versions of "The Eyes Of A New York Woman", "Hooked on a Feeling", and "It's Only Love" from 1968 to 1969 (all of which achieved success).

James released his own version of "Suspicious Minds," also produced by Moman, on Scepter Records in 1968, which recording, with more-or-less the same arrangement, eventually became a smash for Elvis Presley in the following year. The song was later listed on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time at 91.