As a sideman Mark Edgar Stuart has toured and played on dozens of critically-acclaimed records including an appearance on “The Late Show with David Letterman.” With little fuss or fanfare he became the go-to bass player for an elite group of record producers and artists. His no-nonsense style always played a supporting role that was close to the spotlight, but not too close…

Cancer changes things, and so does losing your father. When all of these things happened in rapid succession, Mark took some time to heal, and reevaluate. In 2010 he put down his bass, picked up a guitar, and started writing songs he never thought anybody outside his family would ever hear. It’s possible nobody ever would have heard them, either, if not for the encouragement of his colleagues. His debut album earned him “Record Of The Year” from The Memphis Flyer. Soon he was opening for all his heroes including Leon Russell, Tony Joe White, Levon Helm, and Billy Joe Shaver. Grammy-winning music writer/director Robert Gordon is a big fan, often spinning Mark’s tracks on his weekly radio show, and other critics agree: “His acerbic wit is reminiscent of John Prine and Randy Newman” (No Depression); “His wry, cutting view of the world makes something old new again” (Paste).

The story you’ll hear over and over again as people discover Mark’s music, is how it was triggered by a period of sickness and sorrow. Mark’s stories are sweet but never saccharine, even-keeled but deeply affecting. His songs are at once sad, nostalgic, knowing, funny, even cheerful.  He’s lovable and literary, smart yet plain-spoken, heartening, funny, and always memorable. He sounds new and familiar, fresh yet timeless. His songs sound like your favorite stories, retold by a friend.