Damon Marks

Damon Marks

Damon Marks in 2016
Background information
Born (1971-10-06) October 6, 1971
Livingston, New Jersey, New Jersey, US
Genres Pop rock, hard rock, R&B
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter
Instruments Guitar, vocals
Years active 1990–present
Associated acts Bret Michaels, Terry Ilous, Jermaine Paul, Elle Varner
Website damonmarks.com

Damon Marks (born October 6, 1971, in Livingston, New Jersey), is an American professional rock and roll guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist.

Background

Influenced by his father, Tony Marks, an original member of Frankie Valli's first group, The Four Lovers, Damon began playing the guitar passionately when he was ten years old.[1] Since a young age, Damon has utilized his musical abilities in tandem with his impressive business acumen to achieve tremendous success in the music industry.

Damon is nationally known as the founder of the Traveling Guitar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which provides equipment and support for school systems that are struggling to finance their music education programs. Traveling Guitar Foundation is also sponsored by Schecter Guitars, Mogami Cable, Guitar Center, Mesa Boogie, EMG, Inc. and Marriott Hotel

Biography

Throughout his career, Marks has recorded with and performed live with a diverse range of rock artists including Tommy Aldridge, Marco Mendoza, Terry Ilous and Bret Michaels, and with R&B artist, J Records Elle Varner and gospel artist, Sony Music Entertainment Livre'.

Lipstick Magazine

In 2008, Damon helped launch the female-fronted rock band, Lipstick Magazine. Damon co-produced the band's debut album, Skin Deep, alongside Grammy Award winning recording engineer and Multi-platinum producer Mike Plotnikoff. Damon also helped orchestrate the worldwide release of, Skin Deep. Skin Deep was also distributed nationally in both Walmart and Best Buy stores.

In support of the album, Lipstick Magazine undertook a national tour in which they opened for heavy metal icons such as Bret Michaels, Sebastian Bach, Extreme, Ratt, and Winger. During the tour, they also performed at the Rocklahoma Festival.

Bret Michaels

In 2009 Damon graced the stage for a solo performance with Bret Michaels performing Poison's smash hit "Talk Dirty To Me" to a sold out crowd at Crocodile Rock Cafe in Allentown, PA.[2]

Terry Ilous

In January 2010, Marks joined Terry Ilous to perform Heaven and Hell live at the Mohegan Sun Casino, a get well concert to the late Ronnie James Dio.[3]

Elle Varner

In February 2010, Marks performed live with J Records recording artist Elle Varner at the Highline Ballroom on a performance of her single "Welcome Home."[4]

Jermaine Paul

In March 2010, Marks played guitar for R&B recording artist and winner of Season two of The Voice, Jermaine Paul, the opening act for Alicia Keys "Freedom Tour". As a part of the tour, Marks performed in numerous world-renowned arenas such as Madison Square Garden, the Prudential Center and the Trump Taj Mahal.[5]

Livre'

In January 2016, Marks recorded the acoustic and electric guitars for Livre's hit single "Me To You" released in May, 2016 on MBK Records Sony Music Entertainment

Damon Marks live at BB Kings, NYC

Equipment

Damon presently holds full artist endorsements with Schecter Guitar Research and EMG, Inc. Damon primarily uses the Schecter Banshee Elite-6 FR S with the new sustainiac supercharger pickup system[6] and the Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 FR with EMG Pickups 57/66.[7]

He also endorses the hand crafted Mérida Guitars DG15-SPGACES Diana Series Guitar and the T25-CES Trajan Series Nylon String Guitar.[8]

Discography (with Lipstick Magazine)

Studio albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US
Rock		 US
Hd. Rock
2008 Skin Deep[9] – – –

Live albums

Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US
Rock		 US
Hd. Rock
2008 Live in NYC[10]
  • Release date: April 28, 2008
  • Label: Lipstick Magazine
 — — —

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Album
US
Main.		 US
Alt.		 US
Rock
2008 "Skin Deep"[11] - - - Skin Deep

Traveling Guitar Foundation

In 2010, Damon founded the Traveling Guitar Foundation.[12] The Traveling Guitar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to ensure that school children have access to high-quality musical instruments and instruction during a time when school systems across the country are facing budgetary restraints.[13] Initially, the Foundation established a substantial presence in the New York tri state area. However, the Foundation's profile has recently grown on a national level, with clinics taking place in California, Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia.[14] Moreover, superstar athletes such as Allan Houston, David Tyree, and Dikembe Mutombo[15] have also taken notice of the Foundation's mission and work.

By way of background, the Foundation accomplishes its mission in two ways. First, the Foundation travels to schools whose music programs are in jeopardy and give music educational clinics for the benefit of students. At each event, the Foundation enlists the help of both younger and established artists, such as SWIZZ BEATZ,[16] Leon Thomas III, Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly) and Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, to help showcase the power of music as an artistic platform, cultural force, and enjoyable activity. In these clinics, Damon interacts directly with school children, providing them with musical instruction and emphasizing the importance of attaining an education.[17]

Second, the Foundation donates guitar kits and other instruments directly to the school's music program to help them sustain their musical education programs. After each clinic, Damon, as well as other members of the Foundation, check back with the school's administration and music faculty to make sure that the donated instruments are being used properly, and regularly, for the betterment of children's intellectual and creative development.

In support of the Foundation, Damon has appeared on the television stations WABC TV NY,[18] NJ12 TV with NY Giants Super Bowl champ David Tyree,[19] WPIX CW11 Morning News,[20] NBC Bay Area News with actor Leon Thomas III,[21] NBC Non Stop Sound NYC.[22] He has also appeared on radio stations KTU cares, Q104.3, Z100 (Elvis Duran and the Morning Show), and Power 105.1 FM NYC. The Foundation's main sponsors include Schecter Guitars, Mogami Cable, EMG, Inc., Mesa Boogie, Guitar Center and Marriott Hotel.[23][24]

Damon Marks talking with students about the importance of music education.

In early 2013, Damon went on his first celebrity USO tour[25] spreading the positive impacts of music to troops and their families in Germany. Damon was joined by guitarist Oz Fox from the Christian glam metal band Stryper[26] to boost troop morale and remind military families the USO is always by their side, Marks spent a week with the USO talking to troops and their families, donating brand new Schecter guitars and performing songs off his new album "Back To Good.”

In total, Marks and his team have uplifted the spirits of 750 U.S. troops, military families and school faculty. Among the places visited were, Patch High School on U.S. Army Garrison Stuttgart, the USO Warrior Center, Ramstein Air Base and U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden, among other locations.

During the visit, the group also toured Landstuhl Regional Medical Center and the Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility (CASF) as well as dined with and performed for troops.

In early 2013, Marks and the TGF donated guitars to the USO's brand new, state-of-the art USO Warrior and Family Care Center's Music Room at Fort Belvoir – which opened in February 2013 to help our wounded, ill and injured troops and their families continue to heal.

On October 24, 2014 Marks was presented with his very own street sign at a ceremony by Mayor Christian Bollwage of the city of Elizabeth, NJ where he grew up and did all his schooling.[27] Marks funded seven school's music education courses with new Schecter guitars and various types of percussion donations.[28]

In early January 2015 Damon received a letter from New Jersey governor Chris Christie recognizing him for his contributions to the education of our children and for funding 17 schools throughout the state of New Jersey.[29]

On May 13, 2016 Damon Marks was presented with a second street sign at a ceremony by Mayor Barbara McMorrow of the city of Freehold, NJ recognizing him for his contributions to the education of our children through his foundation Traveling Guitar Foundation. Marks was also presented with a proclamation that on Saturday May 15, 2016, being declared Damon Marks / Traveling Guitar Foundation day.[30]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Damon Marks.
  1. ↑ "Video Interview with Damon Marks". Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  2. ↑ "Marks Performs With Bret Michaels". Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  3. ↑ "Marks Performs With Terry Ilous". Retrieved 2010-01-20.
  4. ↑ "Damon Marks Performs with Elle Varner". Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Damon Marks Website". Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Damon Marks Schecter Guitars".
  7. ↑ "Damon Marks EMG Pickups".
  8. ↑ "Damon Marks Merida Guitars".
  9. ↑ "Lipstick Magazine CD Release Info". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  10. ↑ "Lipstick Magazine Live Album Info". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  11. ↑ "Lipstick Magazine – "Skin Deep" Single Info". Retrieved 2011-05-23.
  12. ↑ "Traveling Guitar Foundation". Retrieved January 2, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Traveling Guitar Foundation website". Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  14. ↑ "Traveling Guitar Foundation – Events Listing". Retrieved November 22, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Damon Marks Caring for Congo". Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Damon Marks and Swizz Beatz". Retrieved May 3, 2012.
  17. ↑ "Traveling Guitar Foundation – Biography". Retrieved 2011-05-18.
  18. ↑ "Damon Marks on ABC ViewPoint NYC". Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Damon Marks with NY Giant David Tyree". Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Damon Marks on WPIX PIX 11 NYC". Retrieved September 27, 2010.
  21. ↑ "Damon Marks with actor Lean Thomas". Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  22. ↑ "Damon Marks on NBC Non Stop Sound NYC". Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  23. ↑ "Traveling Guitar Foundation Mogami Endorsement Information". Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  24. ↑ "Dean Guitars Interview with Damon Marks". Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  25. ↑ "Damon Marks USO Tour Ramstein Airbase Germany". Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Damon Marks Oz Fox USO". Retrieved May 2013. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  27. ↑ "Damon Marks Street Sign Ceremony". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  28. ↑ "Damon Marks Street Sign Ceremony". Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Damon Marks letter from NJ Governor Chris Christie". Retrieved January 2015. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  30. ↑ "Damon Marks street sign and proclamation ceremony from NJ Mayor Barbara McMorrow". Retrieved May 2016. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
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