David Marks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Marks
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Marks performing for the California Saga 2 Charity Concert in Los Angeles, 2019
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Lee Marks |
| Born | August 22, 1948 |
| Origin | New Castle, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | Error: Need valid death date (first date): year, month, day |
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David Lee Marks, born on August 22, 1948, is an American guitarist. He was one of the first members of the famous band, The Beach Boys. David grew up in Hawthorne, California. He was a neighbor and friend of the original band members. He often joined their family gatherings.
Marks played music with the Wilson brothers even before The Beach Boys started. He was part of the first demo recording for their song "Surfin'" in 1961. He officially joined The Beach Boys in February 1962. He became the rhythm guitarist when Al Jardine left the group for a short time. David played on the band's first four albums: Surfin' Safari (1962), Surfin' U.S.A. (1963), Surfer Girl (1963), and Little Deuce Coupe (1963).
David Marks left the band in August 1963 due to disagreements with their manager, Murry Wilson. After leaving, Marks led his own band called The Marksmen. He also worked as a session musician, playing guitar for many other artists. He later studied jazz and classical guitar at music colleges. From 1997 to 1999, Marks returned to play live with The Beach Boys. In 2007, he wrote a book about his life called The Lost Beach Boy. He joined The Beach Boys again for their 50th-anniversary tour in 2012. He also played on their 2012 album That's Why God Made the Radio.
Contents
David Marks's Early Life and Music
Growing Up with The Beach Boys
When David Lee Marks was seven, his family moved. Their new house was right across the street from the Wilson brothers' home. Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson later formed The Beach Boys. David described their neighborhood as simple. The Wilson boys shared a small bedroom. Brian often slept in their converted garage, which was a music room. It had a Hammond B-3 organ, a piano, and a stereo.
In the 1950s, David sang and played music with the Wilson family. They had Sunday night singalongs. In 1958, David saw guitarist John Maus perform. John Maus later became famous with The Walker Brothers. This inspired David to ask for a guitar. He got one for Christmas in 1958. He started taking lessons from Maus.
Developing a Unique Guitar Sound
In 1959, David Marks and Carl Wilson, Brian's youngest brother, started playing electric guitars together. They developed their own special style. Brian Wilson realized that their guitar playing added a strong rock sound to his songs. David and Carl helped Brian write some of his first songs. One of these became the 1963 hit song "Surfer Girl".
David Marks was not on The Beach Boys' first recording, "Surfin'", in October 1961. That recording included Al Jardine, a friend of Brian Wilson's. Al sang and played stand-up bass with the Wilson brothers and their cousin Mike Love. Brian tried different musicians for a few months. He wanted to get a contract with a major record label.
David Marks joined The Beach Boys in February 1962. He took Al Jardine's place as rhythm guitarist. Al had left to go to dental school. David played on the band's first four albums.
David Marks and The Beach Boys' Success
Joining Capitol Records
On April 16, 1962, The Beach Boys recorded a demo. This session produced the songs "Surfin' Safari" and "409". These songs became the band's first big hit. They also helped The Beach Boys get a long-term contract with Capitol Records.
According to writer Jon Stebbins, David Marks's guitar playing with Carl Wilson changed the band's sound. The band's earlier recordings sounded more like folk music. But with David and Carl, the sound became "crisp and modern." Al Jardine said that Carl and David brought an "electric guitar drive" to the band. This helped Brian Wilson create even more music.
Touring and Hit Songs
David Marks continued to sing and play rhythm guitar with The Beach Boys. He played on their early hit songs. These included "Surfin' Safari", "409", "Surfin' U.S.A.", "Shut Down", "Surfer Girl", "In My Room", and "Be True to Your School".
David played over 100 concerts with The Beach Boys. He toured all over the United States with them. He also appeared on their first national TV shows. David helped create their tight sound and youthful look. This was seen on their early album covers.
Many people thought David left The Beach Boys when Al Jardine returned. But this was not exactly true. Both David Marks and Al Jardine were part of the 1963 touring band. Al Jardine came back part-time to play bass for Brian Wilson. Brian had started to step back from touring in the spring of 1963.
Leaving The Beach Boys
David Marks left The Beach Boys in late August 1963. This happened during an argument with Murry Wilson. Murry was the Wilson boys' father and the band's manager. David did not fully leave until later that year. This was when his parents and Murry had serious disagreements about money and management. The first show without David on guitar was October 19, 1963.
Even after leaving, David remained friends with many band members. He stayed in touch with them for many years. He was also a legal member of The Beach Boys until September 27, 1967, though he didn't know it at the time.
David Marks's Career After The Beach Boys
Leading The Marksmen
In February 1963, Dennis Wilson was in a car accident. Mark Groseclose filled in for him. Mark went to high school with Carl Wilson. David Marks and Mark Groseclose became friends. David eventually took over Mark's garage band, The Jaguars. He renamed them The Marksmen.
The Marksmen started as a side project for David. He was a songwriter and felt his songs were not being used by The Beach Boys. After David left The Beach Boys, The Marksmen became his main focus. They were one of the first bands to sign with Herb Alpert's A&M Records in 1964.
It was reported that Murry Wilson tried to stop radio stations from playing The Marksmen's songs. Later, the group signed with Warner Bros. Records. They released one song. Even though their concerts were full, they didn't get enough radio play. So, they didn't release more music. In 2009, all of The Marksmen's songs were released to the public for the first time. This collection was called Marks & the Marksmen Ultimate Collector's Edition 1963–1965.
Other Musical Projects and Studies
In 1966, David Marks played with Casey Kasem's Band Without a Name. He then joined The Moon, a psychedelic pop band from the late 1960s. The Moon released two albums. David also performed with Delaney and Bonnie, Colours, and Warren Zevon.
By the time David was 21, he had signed five record deals. He felt tired of the music scene in Los Angeles. In 1969, he moved to Boston. There, he studied jazz and classical guitar. He took private lessons at the Berklee College of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music in 1970–71.
Later Years and Reunions
Returning to The Beach Boys
In early 1971, David Marks reunited with The Beach Boys on stage in Boston. Mike Love offered him a chance to rejoin the band, but David said no. Instead, he spent the next 25 years playing with many other artists. He became known as a skilled session guitarist. He didn't try to use his past fame as a Beach Boy. David briefly played lead guitar for Delaney & Bonnie and Friends. He was also offered a spot in the band Paul Revere and the Raiders. But he turned it down because he didn't want to wear a revolutionary war costume.
In 1988, The Beach Boys were inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. David Marks was not invited or recognized at the ceremony. This was corrected in 2007.
David Marks rejoined The Beach Boys full-time in 1997. He played lead guitar because Carl Wilson was battling cancer and could not tour. David played about 300 more shows as an official Beach Boy. He left the band again in 1999 due to his own health issues. He was diagnosed with a serious illness.
Raising Awareness and Reuniting Again
David Marks became a leader in the community for people with his illness. He appeared in the media to help others learn about it. In 2007, David co-wrote The Lost Beach Boy with Jon Stebbins. The book talked about his early career, his "lost years," his health problems, and his return to the Beach Boys community.
On May 20, 2005, The Beach Boys' six-man lineup, including David Marks and Al Jardine, was honored. They were recognized at the Beach Boys Historic Landmark in Hawthorne, California. The next year, on June 13, 2006, David Marks joined Brian Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Bruce Johnston. They met on the roof of the Capitol Records building in Hollywood. They received an award for selling two million copies of The Beach Boys' CD collection Sounds of Summer: The Very Best of The Beach Boys.
In 2008, David toured the UK as a special guest with The Beach Boys. He also performed with Al Jardine and Dean Torrence from Jan & Dean. This was part of the "Legends of Surf Music" tour.
On December 16, 2011, it was announced that David Marks would reunite with Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, and Bruce Johnston. They planned a new Beach Boys album and a 50th-anniversary tour in 2012. The group appeared at the 2012 Grammy Awards. Their 50-date tour started in Tucson, Arizona, in April. Mike Love said, "David rocks. A phenomenal guitarist." He added that David's guitar leads on songs like "Surfin'" and "Fun, Fun, Fun" sounded very real. David sang lead vocals on "Hawaii" and "Getcha Back" during the tour.
After the 50th-anniversary tour, it was announced that David Marks, Brian Wilson, and Al Jardine would no longer tour with Bruce Johnston and Mike Love. Instead, David appeared with Jardine and Wilson for a short summer tour in 2013. David sang "Little Bird", "Forever", "This Car of Mine", and "Summertime Blues" on this tour. Later that fall, Wilson, Jardine, and Marks joined guitar legend Jeff Beck for a 23-city tour. They appeared on the Jimmy Fallon show to promote their tour. In 2015, Marks and Jardine added vocals to Brian Wilson's solo album.
David Marks and his wife, Carrieann, moved back to southern California in 2013. They had lived in North Salem, New York, for ten years. In 2017, David Marks appeared as himself on an episode of the TV show Decker. David has been less active since 2015. In 2019, he appeared with Al Jardine at a charity event. This event helped raise money for people experiencing homelessness.
David Marks's Music Albums
Solo Albums
- Work Tapes (1992)
- Something Funny Goin' On (2003)
- I Think About You Often (2006)
- The Marks-Clifford Band "Live At The Blue Dolphin '77" (2006)
- The Lost Years : Limited Edition - triple album Set (2008)
- The Marksmen : The Ultimate Collectors Edition (2008)
Albums with The Beach Boys
- Surfin' Safari (1962)
- Surfin' U.S.A. (1963)
- Surfer Girl (1963)
- Little Deuce Coupe (1963)
- That's Why God Made the Radio (2012)
- Live – The 50th Anniversary Tour (2013)
Albums with The Moon
- Without Earth (1968)
- The Moon (1969)
Albums with Surf City All Stars
- Live In Concert (2007)
- Acoustic Vibrations (2009)
- Live In Concert (2013)
Other Albums David Marks Appeared On
- Mike Love, Bruce Johnston and David Marks of the Beach Boys Salute NASCAR (1998)
- A Postcard from California (Al Jardine, 2010)
- No Pier Pressure (Brian Wilson, 2015)
See also
In Spanish: David Marks para niños
- Beach Boys Historic Landmark
