By Lisa Morgan
I was walking down and around Old Town La Quinta after dinner one night and could hear music and laughter streaming through the air. I followed my ears to The Grill on Main. Here, where other places were quiet and sleepy, stood a captivated, cheering audience surrounding the music’s source, Mark Gregg. Armed with a guitar and microphone, he took requests and played from his obviously full arsenal of musical experience, completely pleasing the crowd and singing them into a festive frenzy on what would otherwise be a quiet evening in this little desert community. I was impressed to say the least.
Gregg’s laid back, low key, likeable persona might lead you to underestimate the depth of skill and experience he has under his belt; that is if he didn’t play like the music was as instinctive as breathing. Come to find out, Mark has shared the stage with a number of well-known artists including Robert Plant and Jason Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Dee Snyder of Twisted Sister, Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Stroud of Sheryl Crow’s band, Slash of Guns and Roses, the band Foreigner, Slim Jim Phantom of the Stray Cats, Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray and many others.
Mark started singing and playing as a teenager, having been brought up in roadhouses and singing for his supper. “I have always been fascinated and affected by music. Even if I didn’t understand the lyrics as a child, the music often made me feel I did understand somehow. My goals continue to evolve. I can’t separate any part of my life from music. All my business revolves around music. I am now a successful inventor and manufacturer of my inventions. This has greatly broadened my scope of the music business but it always comes down to sharing music with people. I think anyone who does the same thing for 35 years is going to get better and better. I recently left a long term gig with a rock band and reinvented myself as an acoustic rock performer in a show I call the Mark Gregg Acoustic Stomp Show. The stomp part is kind of unique in that I don’t use backing tracks or drum machines but rather, I built a small platform that I mic and run through a sub-woofer for low frequencies that you would hear from a drummer and bass player. It sounds great and is visually compelling as well. I’m getting a lot of work with it. People think I use tracks because it sounds so full. I also continue to perform as Dude Jones when I am contracted as a band leader, and do a lot of work for the Wayne Foster organization.”
Currently performing at the Lavender Bistro in La Quinta every Tuesday and Wednesday at 5:30 pm, Mark Gregg also appears with his band, Dude Jones, at the Grill on Main in Old Town La Quinta on Thursdays at 8 pm. He is slotted to perform at BB’s annual St Patrick’s Day Bash Saturday, March 16th and Sunday, March 17th in the Tilted Kilt parking lot as well. Meanwhile, benefit concerts with the Wayne Foster organization are an important part of Mark’s life.
He is also quite obviously proud of his son, Derek Jordan Gregg, who is following in his father’s musical footsteps. “Derek Gregg is a badass,” shares Mark. “You should check out his solo shows or his band, The Vibe, in Palm Springs when you can. You won’t be sorry.” I have to concur, as I recently saw Derek play live and was absolutely floored by the raw talent of this young man. He easily won the Lucky Break competition produced by Mix 100.5 at Stadium Club in Rancho Mirage. You can find Derek Jordan Gregg’s music on youtube.com.
In regard to upcoming projects, Mark shared, “Brad Mercer and I are starting an annual music and arts festival to benefit Tony Patler, a local music industry phenom, this year. Dave Mason of the band Traffic is likely to be the headliner. I am also looking into opening a concert theatre in conjunction with a well-known personality that will revive a name very familiar to local residents. We are seeking funding and looking at properties now. I’m involved in many projects in varying degrees of progress, including a blog I will be launching with interviews of friends whom I have in the business as well as some of our humorous stories.”
I would strongly suggest that you take advantage of the opportunity to see Mark Gregg perform live, while you can. As with all of our great talent here in the Coachella Valley, it may not stay here for long. Mark was up for the guitar slot in Foreigner at one time, but his friend Bruce got the gig and as Mark says, “I’m in a position now, to accept a gig of this sort.” To follow Mark Gregg’s numerous activities and amazing music, you can follow him on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/markgregg.10. You can also visit www.silverbucker.com for his patent pending PAF Humbucking Pickup or www.ultimateattenuator for the bestselling and highest rated tube guitar amp attenuator in the world which he co-designed and manufactures via his company, Magus Innovations LLC.
