Guitarist Mark Strickland at the Backstage Bar in Theater Square, downtown Pittsburgh

Mark Strickland

From Mark: “I started playing guitar around the age of 12, taking guitar lessons downtown Pittsburgh in the Werner Building located where the Cabaret Theatre is now on Penn Ave. I played in several different Rock n Roll bands in the 60s and 70s. In the late 60’s after seeing and hearing some of the jazz players, at the Hurricane and Crawford Grill, to name of few of the places, is when I started playing jazz.

I was fortunate to eventually play with some of these great jazz musicians such as Grady Tate, Gerald Wilson, Gene Ludwig, Pete Henderson, Rodger Humphries, Spenser Bey, Rabbit Barnes, Dewayne Dolphin, and vocalist Tania Grubbs, Etta Cox, Judi Figel just to name a few. I have played on CDs with Michele Bensen, Jessica Lee, Gene Ludwig and Eddie Manion. For the last 25 plus years I have worked in my own recording studio, producing and recording numerous upcoming and established musicians.

Although my passion is playing the guitar, after years of lessons I also enjoy playing the piano. I currently play at jazz venues around Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas as well as out of state.”