Mark began playing guitar at a very young age and got his professional start in bluegrass in 1974 with his father’s band, “Frog Newton and the Tadpoles” (Mark was the tadpole of course). The following year Mark joined, “Cabin Hill.” Mark joined “Heights of Grass” in 1978, before moving onto the progressive group, “The Knoxville Grass,” in 1979. While with The Knoxville Grass, Mark recorded his contemporary hit, “Painted Lady.” After a two-year “Knoxville” stint he rejoined “The Heights of Grass” in 1982 only to move on to “The Virginia Squires” in 1983.

Mark remained with the “Squires” (Sammy Shelor, Rickie and Ronnie Simpkins) until 1988 when he decided a brief sabbatical from the road was in order and took a few years off from the music industry. Fortunately for bluegrass, Mark’s self imposed exile was short-lived as he realized that the music was an integral part of his life. In 1990 he formed the Mark Newton Entertainment Agency and in 1992 he joined forces with the legendary Bill Emerson, of ‘Country Gentlemen’ fame, to form “The Bill Emerson & Mark Newton Band.” Bill retired from actively performing in 1995 and Mark went on to join “The Tony Rice Unit.” Mark stepped out on his own in 1998 and recorded a solo album entitled Living a Dream. Shortly afterwards, he formed “The Mark Newton Band” in 1999 and has continued in that capacity since.

Mark, a professional musician for 31 years, is experiencing currently some of his greatest success of his bluegrass career. From managing the Mark Newton Entertainment Agency to performing all across the Nation, “The Mark Newton Band” is busier than ever. Mark is the quintessential, all-in-one businessman and musician. From behind his desk at the Mark Newton Entertainment Agency, he books his own shows, plans the Graves Mountain Festival of Music, manages band finances, plans recording sessions, previews potential songs for the band, establishes long-term band objectives, and various combinations of these tasks constitute his daily routine.



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