Mark's profile
Mark Schatz was born April 23, 1955 into a musical family. He began his formal musical training with cello at age ten and later switched over to string bass. His first performance was in 1971 on electric bass in a high school rock band. Inspired by a love for folk and traditional music, he started to play the guitar and mandolin.
From 1973 to 1978 Mark got his Degree in Music Theory and Composition from Haverford College, studied for a year at Berklee College of Music in Boston, picked up the old-time banjo, and went to his first old-time fiddle festival in Fiddler's Grove, North Carolina. He also started to learn to clog, inspired by his work with Mandala, a Boston based folk dance group. In 1977 he met Bela Fleck which led to a fruitful association including working together in Tasty Licks, Spectrum, and many recording projects including Drive and Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Volume II, The Bluegrass Sessions".
In 1983 Mark changed direction and relocated to Nashville where he played country music on electric bass. He re-entered the acoustic world in 1985 when he joined the Tony Rice Unit. From 1990 to 1998 Schatz played with Tim O'Brien as one the O'Boys. It was during this time that he began his association with The Fiddle Puppet Dancers, who later changed their name to Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. Performing with Tim, who always included some old-time music in his shows with Mark on banjo, and the dance group encouraged him to pursue his own solo recording in 1995, "Brand New Old Tyme Way" on Rounder Records. This was produced by Bela and featured Mark's clawhammer banjo playing and original compositions.
From 1998 through 2002 Mark involved himself in a variety of activities. He expanded his role with Footworks which included becoming their Musical Director and Road Manager and producing two CD's and two videos for the group. He freelanced which included work with Bela Fleck, Laurie Lewis, John Hartford, and Linda Ronstadt. He started touring in earnest with his own band called Mark Schatz and Friends and cut a new solo CD called Steppin' in the Boiler House which featured this band.
Mark played bass with Nickel Creek from 2003 through 2007, and their reunion tour in 2014 and played on their CDs Why Should The Fire Die and Dotted Line. From 2008 to 2016 he was a member of The Claire Lynch Band, where he added color and variety to shows with hambone, clawhammer banjo, and clogging.
From 2017 to 2018 Mark taught at several camps in the US, Canada, and the UK, including Common Ground On The Hill in Westminster, Maryland. He toured with singer/songwriters Jonathan Byrd and Canadian Corin Raymond, The Claire Lynch Band, and the hard driving bluegrass band Jeff Scroggins and Colorado for whom he produced a project called Over the Line due for release in early 2019. 2017 saw a Grammy Nomination for Claire Lynch's North By South, and two wins for Undercurrent by Sarah Jarosz. His work with Footworks included several Arts in Education performances and a new theatre production called Destination Baltimore.
2018 and 1029 saw major changes in Mark’s life. His wife and Footworks’ Director, Eileen Carson Schatz, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2018 and she passed away in mid-2019. Mark got off the road to care for her, and in the months of reflection since her passing determined that he wanted to make a change in his performance orientation. Wanting to engage more and cut through the fourth wall, he created a solo show called "Mark Schatz - The Solo Concert" to present to small and intimate audiences. This was launched in November, 2019, and he plans to make it a significant part of this touring in 2020. He continues to teach at camps, tour with bands occasionally, and get more involved with his own local Baltimore, DC, and Annapolis music scene.
From 1973 to 1978 Mark got his Degree in Music Theory and Composition from Haverford College, studied for a year at Berklee College of Music in Boston, picked up the old-time banjo, and went to his first old-time fiddle festival in Fiddler's Grove, North Carolina. He also started to learn to clog, inspired by his work with Mandala, a Boston based folk dance group. In 1977 he met Bela Fleck which led to a fruitful association including working together in Tasty Licks, Spectrum, and many recording projects including Drive and Tales from the Acoustic Planet, Volume II, The Bluegrass Sessions".
In 1983 Mark changed direction and relocated to Nashville where he played country music on electric bass. He re-entered the acoustic world in 1985 when he joined the Tony Rice Unit. From 1990 to 1998 Schatz played with Tim O'Brien as one the O'Boys. It was during this time that he began his association with The Fiddle Puppet Dancers, who later changed their name to Footworks Percussive Dance Ensemble. Performing with Tim, who always included some old-time music in his shows with Mark on banjo, and the dance group encouraged him to pursue his own solo recording in 1995, "Brand New Old Tyme Way" on Rounder Records. This was produced by Bela and featured Mark's clawhammer banjo playing and original compositions.
From 1998 through 2002 Mark involved himself in a variety of activities. He expanded his role with Footworks which included becoming their Musical Director and Road Manager and producing two CD's and two videos for the group. He freelanced which included work with Bela Fleck, Laurie Lewis, John Hartford, and Linda Ronstadt. He started touring in earnest with his own band called Mark Schatz and Friends and cut a new solo CD called Steppin' in the Boiler House which featured this band.
Mark played bass with Nickel Creek from 2003 through 2007, and their reunion tour in 2014 and played on their CDs Why Should The Fire Die and Dotted Line. From 2008 to 2016 he was a member of The Claire Lynch Band, where he added color and variety to shows with hambone, clawhammer banjo, and clogging.
From 2017 to 2018 Mark taught at several camps in the US, Canada, and the UK, including Common Ground On The Hill in Westminster, Maryland. He toured with singer/songwriters Jonathan Byrd and Canadian Corin Raymond, The Claire Lynch Band, and the hard driving bluegrass band Jeff Scroggins and Colorado for whom he produced a project called Over the Line due for release in early 2019. 2017 saw a Grammy Nomination for Claire Lynch's North By South, and two wins for Undercurrent by Sarah Jarosz. His work with Footworks included several Arts in Education performances and a new theatre production called Destination Baltimore.
2018 and 1029 saw major changes in Mark’s life. His wife and Footworks’ Director, Eileen Carson Schatz, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early 2018 and she passed away in mid-2019. Mark got off the road to care for her, and in the months of reflection since her passing determined that he wanted to make a change in his performance orientation. Wanting to engage more and cut through the fourth wall, he created a solo show called "Mark Schatz - The Solo Concert" to present to small and intimate audiences. This was launched in November, 2019, and he plans to make it a significant part of this touring in 2020. He continues to teach at camps, tour with bands occasionally, and get more involved with his own local Baltimore, DC, and Annapolis music scene.
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