Mark Tempany
Mark Tempany
Mark Tempany started hearing music at the earliest age.
The last of four children, his brothers and sister all played their
extensive record collections and always tuned in to their radio
favourites. Mark’s mother was also a fine singer who constantly sang
at home, and on the road during regular holiday adventures.
Mark’s first audience was his grade four school class - his first
stage performance at his grade nine high school variety concert. By
the time Mark was nine he had been writing and recording his own
songs on home tape recorders - and was already a competant guitar
player.
As Mark progressed through university (where he attained a degree in
Environmental Science) he knew where his passion lay - and
immediately upon graduating he began playing small folk music clubs
and cafes..
In late 1993 Mark entered and won several sections of a local country
music talent quest - something that would change his musical
direction forever. The organisers - impressed with Mark’s potential -
suggested he travel to the impending Tamworth Country Music Festival
in NSW and enter competitions there. This he did, and immediately won
two major sections of the leading amateur country music event - the
CCMA National Talent Search.
Although Mark had seen himself primarily as a songwriter - he had
found it frustratingly difficult to have major existing recording
artists review his songs. This led to Mark recording his first all-
original album - "Stand in the Storm" - in 1994. "Southern Skies"
followed in 1996, and "Summer Dreams" in 1998 - with Mark’s music
gaining more media and critical attention with each album released.
In 1996 Mark had been a Grand Finalist in country music’s premier
professional talent search - Toyota Star Maker - and in late 1999 had
travelled to North America to collect a second prize in the Unisong
International Song Contest - one of the world’s largest songwriting
competitions.
This experience culminated in the album "far away" - a true watershed
project featuring superb production, performances and a public and
critical reception quite out of the ordinary.
Now Mark was being seen on national television and heard everywhere
on radio - and his live performances generating much excited
response. He had toured to North America and Europe in late 1999, and
was now also gaining widespread exposures overseas.By 2003
Mark’s brilliant fifth album - "The Long Highway" - was released, and
several top-charting radio hits have ensued.
With over 10,000 album sales, and an ever-growing concert touring
base, Mark’s music is providing the ultimate quality and uniqueness
of performance that have made them worthy leading lights of the
Australian independent music community.
"Concert in the Chapel"
Mark’s annual concert series at the Tamworth Regional Conservatorium
of Music is quickly becoming an integral part of the Australasian
Country Music Festival every January. Begun in 2001, "Concert in the
Chapel" not only establishes an annual festival home for Mark’s music
- but also in time will showcase the very best in original Australian
music. In 2005 "Concert in the Chapel" provided three SOLD OUT shows,
featuring Mark, Golden Guitar winner Michael Fix and emerging talent
Alison Hams.
For more details go to www.marktempany.com
PRS, TLC Radio, April 2005
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