Mark Farner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Farner
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Farner performing in 2009
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| Background information | |
| Born | September 29, 1948 Flint, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock, hard rock, CCM |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals, keyboards, harmonica |
| Years active | 1965–present |
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) is an American musician. He is best known as the original singer and guitarist for the famous rock band Grand Funk Railroad. He helped start the band in 1969. Later in his career, he also became a contemporary Christian musician.
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Mark Farner's Early Music Journey
Mark Farner started playing music in the mid-1960s. He was part of several bands before forming Grand Funk Railroad. Some of these early bands included Terry Knight and The Pack, and The Bossmen. He went to Flint Kearsley High School.
In 1969, Mark Farner teamed up with Don Brewer (who played drums) and Mel Schacher (who played bass guitar). Together, they created the band Grand Funk Railroad. Later, in 1972, Craig Frost joined them on keyboards. Mark Farner also has Cherokee descent from his mother's side of the family.
Mark Farner and Grand Funk Railroad
As a member of Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner was very important. He was the main guitarist and lead singer. He also wrote most of the band's songs.
One of his most famous songs is the epic "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)" from 1970. He also wrote "Bad Time" in 1975. This song was one of the band's biggest hits, reaching the top 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
After Grand Funk Railroad
After Grand Funk Railroad first broke up in 1976, Mark Farner started his solo career. He released his first solo album in 1977. In 1981, he and Don Brewer started a new version of Grand Funk. They released two albums together.
Mark Farner later became a born again Christian in the late 1980s. He had success with his Christian music. His song "Isn't it Amazing" was nominated for a Dove Award. It also reached number 2 on the Contemporary Christian music charts.
In the 1990s, Mark Farner toured with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band. This was a supergroup that included other famous musicians like John Entwistle and Billy Preston.
Later in the 1990s, Mark Farner joined Grand Funk again for a few years. But he eventually left to focus on his solo music. Today, he tours with his own band, called Mark Farner's American Band. They play a mix of Grand Funk songs and his solo hits.
In 2012, Mark Farner had a pacemaker put in because of heart problems. In 2015, he was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He was already in the Hall of Fame as a member of Grand Funk Railroad and Terry Knight & The Pack.
Other Interests and Honors
Mark Farner has been honored for his Native ancestry. In 1999, the Lakota Sioux Elders honored him. They gave him a special handmade ceremonial quilt. He also received the Cherokee Medal of Honor from the Cherokee Honor Society.
A book about Mark Farner's life, called From Grand Funk to Grace, was published in 2001.
Mark Farner's Music Albums
Mark Farner has released many albums throughout his career.
Solo Albums
- Mark Farner (1977)
- No Frills (1978)
- Just Another Injustice (1988)
- Some Kind of Wonderful (1991)
- For the People (2006)
- Closer to My Home (2024)
Albums with Grand Funk Railroad
- On Time (1969)
- Grand Funk (1969)
- Closer to Home (1970)
- Live Album (1970)
- Survival (1971)
- We're an American Band (1973)
- Grand Funk Lives (1981)
See also
In Spanish: Mark Farner para niños
