Born in Bitburg, Germany and raised in Kansas City, Mo., Mark started playing drums the summer after 6th grade after seeing a classmate play drums for his 6th grade class. Mark started his first drum lessons that summer and soon was enrolled in his Junior High and Senior High School Concert and Jazz bands and started playing his first bar gigs at an early age. He started competing in his first drum competitions in Junior High and Senior High and won top honors in each competition.

During High School, Mark started studying with the main percussionist with the Kansas City Symphony, Vince Bilardo, who soon after, enrolled Mark in drum and bugle corp which helped immensely in sharpening and honing Mark's drumming skills.

After high school, Mark went on to enroll at the UMKC Conservatory of Music in Kansas City, playing in the university's jazz band, concert band, and percussion ensemble. Mark enjoyed the musical environment, but was anxious to get out and play professionally, so after 2 years, left and went on the road with different road bands, traveling all over the Midwest and West.

In 1982, Mark had the honor of studying with the great David Garibaldi for a short time while working in California, whose concepts Mark continues to use and explore to this day.
Mark then moved to Las Vegas in February of 1987 and has been working there ever since. Since living there, Mark has performed in almost every casino on the strip, playing in everything from funk, rnb, blues, jazz, latin, country, and rock bands. Mark has also gotten to open for everyone, from David Brenner, to the Pointer Sisters, to the Whispers, while also getting to perform with everyone from impressionist Frank Gorshin to country star Michael Peterson. While living in Las Vegas, Mark has also gotten the honor to study with the great latin drummer Joey Heredia, funk master Rick Latham, along with the great Cuban percussionist Jose Campa.
Mark now plays drums for "VENUS RISING".