1948 On 29 September at 11:55pm, Mark Farner is born in Flint, Michigan, USA. 1964 Mark's first band is the Genesseians.<BR><BR> Band member's include Rod Lester: Guitar, Lead vocals; Chuck Hit: Guitar; Diane Farner: Drums [later replaced by Jim Keener] 1965 Mark's next band is Robin's Hoods, aka The Derelicts.<BR><BR> Band members include Les Merril: Drums; Monk McFadden: Lead Guitar, vocals; Dave Peedy: Guitar; Mike West: Harmonica, Vocals; Craig Frost: Keyboards 1966 Mark joins with Terry Knight in the first part of a long relationship. He plays bass and guitar.<BR><BR> Band members include Richard Knapp (Terry Knight) - Lead vocals, Harmonica, Maracas, Tambourine; Herman Jackson - Bass; Bob Caldwell - Keyboards, Vocals; Curt Johnson - Lead Guitar, Vocals; Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals 1966 Mark leaves the Pack and joins the Bossmen:<BR><BR> Bandmembers include Dick Wagner - Lead guitar, Lead Vocals; Lanny Roenicke - Bass, Vocals; Warren Keith - Keyboards, Vocals; Pete Woodman - Drums 1967 Mark returns to the Pack, this time as lead guitarist.<BR><BR> Band members include Richard Knapp (Terry Knight) - Vocals, Harmonica, Maracas, Tambourine; Herman Jackson - Bass; Bob Caldwell - Keyboards, Vocals; Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals 1967 Terry Knight leaves the Pack and the band continues. Mark moves back down to guitar and then back to lead.<BR><BR> Band members include Herman Jackson - Bass [later replace by Rod Lester]; Bob Caldwell - Keyboards, Vocals [later replaced by Al Shane and then Craig Frost]; Curt Johnson - Lead Guitar, Vocals [later replaced by Kenny Rich and eventually Mark]; Don Brewer - Drums, Vocals 1968 While Mark is playing with The Pack, he does double duty with the Coolie Group as lead vocalist.<BR><BR> Band Members include Dennis Bellinger: Bass, Vocals; Bob Katrinic: Drums; Bob Siebert: Guitar; Craig Marsden: Lead Guitar 1969 Mark and Don leave the Pack and team up with Mel Schacher from <B>? and the Mysterians</B> to form Grand Funk Railroad and turn the world of arena rock on it's ear. 1969.07 Just prior to the success of Woodstock, other music festivals had started to appear across the country the summer and fall of 1969. <BR><BR> After hearing Grand Funk Railroad, Terry Knight became their manager and started drumming up gigs for the band, most of which they performed for free. Knight persuaded the promoters of the Atlanta International Pop Festival to let Grand Funk play, even though they did so free.<BR><BR> The only unsigned act on the show, Grand Funk Railroad played before 180,000 people in 110-degree heat and the acclaim was instantaneous. Following their Atlanta appearance, the band was signed by Capitol Records. 1969.08 Over the next seven years, Grand Funk Railroad would tour the world. The band's concerts would set attendance records while at the same time, music critics would rip apart their recordings. Rolling Stone Magazine once called them the world's worst rock band, all the time that the working class rock fan embraced them as "The American Band". 1971 Grand Funk Railroad continues as one of the top touring bands of their time, selling out concerts in the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan and South America.<BR><BR> They even sell out New York City's Shea Stadium faster than the Beatles did. 1976 After 12 gold and 10 platinum records, 19 charted singles, 8 Top 40 hits including two at Number One both selling more than one million each, total sales in excess of 25 million copies sold worldwide, <I>and</I> 7 years of touring the world as America's Band, Grand Funk Railroad calls it quits. Mark engages in a solo career. 1977 Mark releases his first solo album on Atlantic Records to critical aclaim. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Mark_Farner/ 1977 to 1979 1977 sees the creation of the Mark Farner band.<BR><BR> Band members include Dennis Bellinger: Bass, Vocals; Al Wotton: Drums; Rick Farner: Guitar; Rick Baker: Keyboards 1978 Mark releases his second solo album, also on Atlantic and also to great reviews. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/No_Frills/ 1980 to 1983 Mark, Don and Mel discuss reforming GFR. Mel goes into rehearsal with Mark and Don but decides not to record or tour for personal reasons.<BR><BR> Local Flint musician Dennis Bellinger is brought in to replace Mel on bass.<BR><BR> Mark, Don and Dennis tour throughout 1981-1982 and sell out shows in Japan and South America. 1983 After two years of touring, Mark, Don and Dennis say goodbye again. Mark resumes his solo career. 1984 to 1986 After Grand Funk disbands, Mark goes back on the road with a different lineup.<BR><BR> Band members include Dennis Bellinger: Bass and Vocals; Howard Eddy: Keyboards and Vocals; Bob Grunyon: Drums 1987 to 1990 Mark's new band to support his Christian beliefs and his upcoming new CD.<BR><BR> Band members include Arnie Vilches: Guitar and Vocals; Michael Blair: Keyboards [later replaced by Howard Eddy]; Lawrence Buckner: Bass and Vocals; Michael Maple: Drums 1988 Mark releases his first album that addresses his Christian beliefs. Features guest super guitarist Phil Keaggy. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Just_Another_Injustice/ 1989 Mark's second "Christian" album. Continues in the same vein as "Just Another Injustice". http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Wake_Up/ 1991 Mark's third album for Frontline Records, features a reworking of the Grand Funk hit "Some Kind Of Wonderful", changing the subject of the song from a girl to Jesus. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Some_Kind_Of_Wonderful/ 1991 to 1994 Change in name for the band with some personel changes.<BR><BR> Band members include Arnie Vilches: Guitar and Vocals; Howard Eddy: Keyboards; Lance Abair: Keyboards; Paul Finaczo: Bass and Vocals; Michael Maple: Drums <BR><BR><BR><BR> (picture taken 19 August 1988, at the Bacchanal, in San Diego by John Easler) 1992 This "fourth" solo album is actually a compilation of songs from Mark's three Frontline releases. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Closer_To_Home/ 1992 Mark and the Godrockers play the Ichthus Jesus Music festival in Kentucky. Other artists featured at the festival included Wes King, Halo, Rick Cua, Out Of The Grey, Susan Ashton, The Choir, Charlie Peacock, DC Talk, Painted Orange, Jacob's Trouble, Guardian, Russ Taff, Seventy Sevens, Steven Curtis Chapman and Jesus Music pioneer Randy Matthews. 1995 Mark tours with the Beatles' Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band.<BR><BR> The All Starr Band includes Ringo Starr: Vocals and Drums; Randy Bachman: Guitar and Vocals; John Entwhistle: Bass and Vocals; Felix Cavalaire: Keyboards and Vocals; Billy Preston: Keyboards and Vocals; Zak Starkey: Drums 1996 Mark continues his work on the road with the All Star Band.<BR><BR> The band members include Steve Cropper: Guitar; Felix Cavalaire: Keyboards and Vocals; Billy Preston: Keyboards and Vocals; David Santos: Bass; Wendy Moten: Vocals; Lou Gramm: Vocals; Liberty DeVito: Drums 1996.05 Mark, Don and Mel discuss the possiblity of a reunion. They meet at a hunting lodge for a preliminary reheasal.<BR><BR> From May 1996 to July 1996 GFR reunite and perform before 260,000 people at 14 sold out shows.<BR><BR> The band hires Ringo Starr promoter David Fishof as their manager. 1997-1999 January 1997 - The band plans 3 shows in Detroit, New York and Los Angeles to benefit and bring awareness to orphans in the war torn country of Bosnia.<BR><BR> April - November 1997: The band plays 30+ shows in the U.S. and Japan with added sideman Howard Eddy Jr.<BR><BR> April 20, 1997: The sound is recorded at the Detroit (Auburn Hills) show which will later be released as the live album Bosnia.<BR><BR> April 11, 1997: GFR perform on "Good Morning America".<BR><BR> May 2, 1997: GFR perform on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno.<BR><BR> October 1997: The double live album Bosnia is released as a box CD set. The proceeds are to go to the Bosnia Relief Effort.<BR><BR> January 1998: The band switches management teams and hires Bobby Roberts and Jim Della Croce as co-managers.<BR><BR> April 29, 1998: GFR performs at Cleveland's Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame museum and donate articles for a display to be created at a future date.<BR><BR> The band plays a 65+ show tour throughout 1998 and is listed as one of the top 10 grossing tours of 1998. 1999 After giving the band a year more than they originally agreed on, Mark once again walks away from GFR to resume his solo career and goes on a national tour.<BR><BR> In March, VH-1 debuts a "Behind The Music" special on Grand Funk Railroad. It proves to be one of their most watched episodes. 1999 to 2001 This latest incarnation of the Mark Farner band includes Rick Farner: Guitar and Vocals; Lawrence Buckner: Bass and Vocals; Paul Ojibway: Keyboards, Sax and Vocals; Hubert Crawford: Drums and Vocals 2000 A double CD of all the songs from Mark's first two Atlantic solo albums "Mark Farner" and "No Frills". http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Heirlooms_Complete_Atlantic_Sessions/ 2001 DVD release of a 1999 concert that featured some of rock & roll's living legends, including Styx, Iron Butterfly, Christopher Cross, Firefall, John Kay & Steppenwolf, Rare Earth and Starship.<BR><BR> Mark performs "I'm Your Captain" and "Closer To Home". http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Videos/Living_Legends_Of_Rock_%26_Roll_-_Live_From_Itchycoo_Park_-_DVD/ 2002 CD "single" featuring "Red, White and Blue", a song dedicated to the hero's of 9-11, "Airborne Ranger" and an acoustic version of "Closer To Home/I'm Your Captain" with help from Mark's brother, Ricky Farner. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Red,_White_%26_Blue_Forever/ 2002 The Mark Farner Band becomes N'rG.<BR><BR> Band members include Lawrence Buckner: Bass and Vocals; Paul Ojibway: Keyboards, Sax and Vocals; Hubert "H Bomb" Crawford: Drums and Vocals 2003 Rerelease of the Frontline solo albums Just Another Injustice and Some Kind Of Wonderful. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Just_Another_InjusticeSome_Kind_Of_Wonderful/ 2003 Rerelease of the Frontline solo albums Wake Up and Closer To Home. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Wake_UpCloser_To_Home/ 2003 Self released on his own LissMark label, Mark releases an album of live, mostly Grand Funk, songs, backed by his band N'rG. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/Live!!_N'rG/ 2006.07.04 The long awaited first release of new material for the band N'rG, For The People is highly anticipated and is received with rave reviews. http://musicmoz.org/Bands_and_Artists/F/Farner,_Mark/Discography/For_The_People_%5Bw_N'rG%5D/