About Mark Barnes

I was born in Buffalo, NY on April 19, 1961. My immediate family was
always very creative through either music or art. My Grandmother played
Piano at various movie houses for the silent films in the 20's and 30’s. My
Father and Mother were musically and artistically inclined respectively.

I have been playing the Piano since the age of 3 and was always a terror to
my piano teachers, never wanting to play the lesson but always wanting to
feel the music instead and play what was inside my head. When I was 12,
my mother finally signed my sister and myself up for Guitar lessons.
Although I had no interest in playing the guitar and did not feel this would
be of any benefit, the instructor worked with us for 6 months. He was
teaching us guitar chords, my sister the guitar and for me, the relationship
of the guitar and their chords to the piano. It was great and I credit him
with helping me to understand how to play out my emotions and feelings.

I guess I composed my first Ballad at age 15 for my father. It was funny as
he always called me "The professor". I always thought that would
somehow become my nickname, but my friends were always calling me
“Barnsey”, and that’s what stuck. I love to travel extensively and find the
most relaxing vacation to be a cruise. I really enjoy working with other
musicians and find that its helps create a very emotional edge about my
music. It is the one venue in which I can truly express all of my tears,
fears, laughter and love for all of those around me. I feel “Music is the
window to the soul. Put your negative emotions into being creative and
never take them out on another human being.”

I was always the realist when I was younger. I wanted to enter the music
field but never felt the right timing then and thought that in such a
competitive field and with all of these other wonderful musicians out there
that I would never stand a chance. So thus, I went into financial business
for myself and have ran numerous successful mortgage banking and
mortgage lending firms for the last 24 years, moving to Florida in the
process. I continued to compose and play new music for the people who
mattered most in my life, which was my family & my friends.

Funny how times change and the Internet was probably the biggest
catalyst in that change for the music industry. It has brought us so much
closer and has given us all a real gift. I must say setting up my MySpace
personal and music page, was the most positive experience of my musical
life. It has allowed me to meet some very wonderful and talented
musicians, singers and artists of all walks of life and share our talents with
each other and the public (our fans). It has inspired me to realize that it
does not matter how old you are or where you are in life, good music and
the arts should play an important role in everyone's existence. I have new
found inspirations since my mom’s passing, and the emotional well just
keeps pouring out new songs weekly. That combined with all of the new
people I have met, been exposed to and inspired by, have allowed me to
open myself to listening and composing all types and styles of music.

Out of this entire experience and most of all, I look forward to continue
composing and writing new music and playing them….just for you!