Mark McDowell is a native of Harrisbug, PA but has called Orlando, FL home since 2001. Fascinated by the guitar from the age of 8, Mark has spent his life mastering his craft. His education at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia has given him the flexibility to fill as a substitute at a moment's notice. While electric and acoustic guitar are Mark's favorite instruments, he also is well versed in bass guitar, banjo and is learning his way around the mandolin.
Early performances at church and high school talent shows whetted Mark's urge to be on stage and he spent a large chunk of his 20's playing in professional touring bands at hotels and casinos around the world. Some of his travels took him as far as Finland touring with a band called Rapture for several months, playing pop, dance and R&B hits in the club of the Ramada Presidente Hotel. After graduation, he travelled with a band called Mannequin along the Atlantic seaboard, through the heartland and into the southwest.
Mark later joined a band called Radio Days that played in larger venues such as Pierres in Ft. Wayne Indiana, Sloppy Joe's in Key West, Spinnaker's in Panama City and the Rock and Roll Beach Club and the West End Stage at Walt Disney World's Pleasure Island entertainment complex, after which Mark relocated to Orlando, permanently. He performed regularly with Off-Kilter at Walt Disney World's EPCOT theme park and has performed with several other live bands at Walt Disney World and Universal Studios, entertaining thousands of families for many years.
Mark divides his time among several bands and projects and is always looking for more! As the head writer for his country comedy band, The Whiskey Sharts, Mark has created a separate persona and has even gotten into puppetry to add a unique and humorous twist to the band's backstory. He performs weekly in Winter Park with Soul Funktion, an 11-piece R&B ensemble that has a loyal and growing following. He also performs in a Four Seasons Tribute band called Sounds of the Seasons. Past experience as Theatrical Musical Director whetted his appetite to perform and he has been a regular participant and performer in the Orlando Fringe Festival for the past few years. Currently, Mark is performing in Tod Kimbro's new musical "Dumpster Cats" at Fringe's Silver Venue.
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