Mark Kozelek facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Kozelek
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Kozelek performing with Sun Kil Moon in 2014
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| Birth name | Mark Edward Kozelek |
| Born | January 24, 1967 Massillon, Ohio, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1989–present |
| Labels | Caldo Verde |
Mark Edward Kozelek (born January 24, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He also produces music and sometimes acts in movies. Mark is best known as the main artist for the indie folk group Sun Kil Moon. He also helped start the indie rock band Red House Painters. With Red House Painters, he recorded six studio albums between 1988 and 2001.
Mark met drummer Anthony Koutsos in Atlanta, Georgia. They later moved to San Francisco, California. There, they formed Red House Painters with guitarist Gorden Mack and bassist Jerry Vessel. The band signed with the record label 4AD and released four studio albums. In 1996, Mark recorded most of the band's fifth album, Songs for a Blue Guitar, by himself. Their last album, Old Ramon (2001), was released after a three-year delay. During this time, Mark recorded an album and an EP of AC/DC cover songs.
Later, Mark, Anthony Koutsos, and Jerry Vessel started a new band called Sun Kil Moon. Their first album, Ghosts of the Great Highway, came out in 2003. Mark was inspired by classical guitar music for Sun Kil Moon's fourth album, Admiral Fell Promises (2010). He often recorded alone for his next albums, Among the Leaves (2012), and then Perils from the Sea and Mark Kozelek & Desertshore, both released in 2013. In 2014, Sun Kil Moon's sixth album, Benji, was highly praised. Its follow-up, Universal Themes (2015), featured long songs with lyrics that sounded like a continuous flow of thoughts.
Mark Kozelek has released many studio albums through his work with Sun Kil Moon, Red House Painters, and his solo projects. His most recent album is All the Best, Isaac Hayes (2020). Many people say Mark Kozelek is one of the best songwriters of his time.
Contents
Mark Kozelek's Music Journey
Early Days and Red House Painters
Mark Kozelek was born on January 24, 1967, in Massillon, Ohio. As a teenager, he led a band called God Forbid. He later moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he met drummer Anthony Koutsos. After moving to San Francisco, California, they formed Red House Painters. Gorden Mack joined as guitarist and Jerry Vessel as bassist. From 1992 to 1996, Red House Painters released several popular albums. These albums featured Mark's deep and personal songs.
However, the band faced some challenges with record labels. This slowed down the release of their 1998 album Old Ramon.
In 2000, Mark released a solo EP called Rock 'n' Roll Singer. It had three new songs and covers of songs by John Denver and AC/DC. Mark changed the AC/DC songs a lot. He turned their hard rock tunes into soft, acoustic folk songs.
In 2001, he released a whole album of AC/DC covers called What's Next to the Moon.
Sun Kil Moon and Other Projects
Sun Kil Moon released their first album, Ghosts of the Great Highway, in 2003. This band also included former Red House Painters members Jerry Vessel and Anthony Koutsos. In 2005, Mark started his own record label, Caldo Verde Records. Sun Kil Moon's next album, Tiny Cities, came out on this label. This album was made entirely of cover songs by the band Modest Mouse. Mark's versions were very different from the originals.
In 2006, Mark wrote a song called "Leo and Luna" for a children's music collection. Later that year, he released a live album titled Little Drummer Boy Live.
Mark returned in 2008 with Sun Kil Moon's third album, April. This album had 11 new songs. Other musicians like Ben Gibbard and Will Oldham sang on some tracks.
A book called Nights of Passed Over was also re-released. It contains all the lyrics from Mark's solo songs, Red House Painters' songs, and Sun Kil Moon's songs. The book also includes a bonus CD with live and rare songs.
On December 9, 2008, Mark and Caldo Verde Records released The Finally LP. This CD had 10 unreleased songs, including covers by artists like Stephen Sondheim and Hüsker Dü. Two new live albums, Find Me, Ruben Olivares: Live in Spain and Lost Verses Live, came out in 2009.
On April 23, 2010, Sun Kil Moon announced their fourth album, Admiral Fell Promises, which was released on July 13, 2010.
A documentary film called Mark Kozelek: On Tour was released in 2011. It showed parts of Mark's tours in Europe and North America.
Sun Kil Moon's fifth album, Among the Leaves, was released on May 29, 2012.
Mark also worked with a group called Desertshore. This group included Phil Carney, a guitarist from Red House Painters. Mark sang and played bass on their second album, Drawing Of Threes, in 2011. He had a bigger role on their third album, Mark Kozelek & Desertshore, in 2013. In the same year, Mark released Perils From the Sea, a collaboration with Jimmy LaValle, and a covers album called Like Rats.
In 2014, Sun Kil Moon released Benji, which received great reviews. Many critics called it Mark's most personal work. Publications praised his songwriting and said Benji was one of his best albums.
Sun Kil Moon's sixth album of original songs, Universal Themes, came out on June 2, 2015. This album again featured drummer Steve Shelley. In 2017, the album Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood was released. Mark toured Europe, the United States, and South America in 2017 and 2018. On May 11, 2018, Mark released a double CD album simply titled Mark Kozelek. It was recorded in San Francisco.
In 2016, Mark released a collaborative album with the band Jesu, called Jesu/Sun Kil Moon.
In August 2022, Mark announced two concerts in Hungary and Slovenia. These were his first live performances in almost two years.
Mark Kozelek's Acting Roles
Mark Kozelek has also tried acting. His friend, director Cameron Crowe, cast him in his film Almost Famous (2000). Mark played Larry Fellows, the bass player in the fictional band Stillwater. He also appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001) as a clubgoer. In 2005, he was in Steve Martin's film Shopgirl. He played a musician who became friends with and helped Jason Schwartzman's character. Mark also performed his Sun Kil Moon song "Lily and Parrots" live in the movie.
Mark Kozelek appeared as himself in Paolo Sorrentino's 2015 film, Youth. He also contributed music to the film's soundtrack.
Discography
Solo Albums
Studio albums
- What's Next to the Moon (2001)
- Like Rats (2013)
- Perils from the Sea (2013) (with Jimmy LaValle)
- Mark Kozelek & Desertshore (2013) (with Desertshore)
- Mark Kozelek Sings Christmas Carols (2014)
- Dreams of Childhood (2015) (with Nicolás Pauls)
- Mark Kozelek Sings Favorites (2016)
- Yellow Kitchen (2017) (with Sean Yeaton)
- Mark Kozelek with Ben Boye and Jim White (2017) (with Ben Boye and Jim White)
- Mark Kozelek (2018)
- Joey Always Smiled (2019) (with Petra Haden)
- Mark Kozelek with Ben Boye and Jim White 2 (2020) (with Ben Boye and Jim White)
- All the Best, Isaac Hayes (2020)
EPs
- Rock 'n' Roll Singer (2000)
- Down in the Willow Garden (2015)
- Night Talks (2017)
- Lovin' You (2021)
Compilations
- If You Want Blood (2001)
- Nights LP (2008)
- The Finally LP (2008)
Live albums
- White Christmas Live (2001)
- Little Drummer Boy Live (2006)
- White Christmas and Little Drummer Boy Live (2007)
- 7 Songs Belfast (2008)
- Find Me, Ruben Olivares: Live in Spain (2009)
- Lost Verses Live (2009)
- Live at Union Chapel & Södra Teatern (2011)
- Live at Lincoln Hall (2012)
- On Tour: A Documentary – The Soundtrack (2012)
- Live in Copenhagen (2012)
- Live at Phoenix Public House Melbourne (2013)
- Live at Mao Livehouse Shanghai & Beijing (2013)
- Live at Palladium: Malmö (2013)
- Live at Victoria Teatern and Stenhammarsalen (2014)
- Live at Biko (2014)
- The Kids – Live in London (2014)
Red House Painters Albums
- Down Colorful Hill (1992)
- Red House Painters aka Rollercoaster (1993)
- Red House Painters aka Bridge (1993)
- Ocean Beach (1995)
- Songs for a Blue Guitar (1996)
- Old Ramon (2001)
Sun Kil Moon Albums
- Ghosts of the Great Highway (2003)
- Tiny Cities (2005)
- April (2008)
- Admiral Fell Promises (2010)
- Among the Leaves (2012)
- Perils from the Sea (2013) (with The Album Leaf)
- Benji (2014)
- Universal Themes (2015)
- Common as Light and Love Are Red Valleys of Blood (2017)
- This Is My Dinner (2018)
- I Also Want to Die in New Orleans (2019)
- Welcome to Sparks, Nevada (2020)
- Lunch in the Park (2021)
- Quiet Beach House Nights (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Mark Kozelek para niños
