Mark Ledford

Mark Ledford
Born(1960-03-10)March 10, 1960
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedNovember 1, 2004(2004-11-01) (aged 44)
Los Angeles, California
GenresJazz, R&B, pop-rap, hip hop
OccupationsMusician, singer, record producer, audio engineer
InstrumentsVocals, trumpet, guitar
Years active1982–1998

Mark Ledford (March 10, 1960 – November 1, 2004) was an American trumpeter, singer, and guitarist. He was known for his multi-instrumentalism and his membership in the Pat Metheny Group.

Music career

Ledford was born and grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He studied the violin and trumpet growing up. He attended Berklee College of Music between 1978 and 1982. After he graduated, he took a job in advertising while doing session work with Stephanie Mills, Jon Hendricks, Special EFX, Michael Brecker, Kevin Eubanks, Don Byron, Living Colour, Prince, and Bill Evans. He would later contribute to the soundtracks for the Spike Lee films Mo' Better Blues and Do the Right Thing.

In 1986, he began a working relationship with Pat Metheny, appearing live with the Pat Metheny Group and on numerous recordings, including the Grammy award winning albums Secret Story and Still Life (Talking). He worked with Bobby McFerrin's a cappella group, Circle, and he played in Joe Locke's Storytelling Band.

Between 1990 and 1992, Ledford taught master classes in trumpet at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada. In 1998, he released a solo album, Miles 2 Go, a tribute to Miles Davis.

On November 1, 2004, Ledford died of heart failure in Los Angeles.

Discography

With Uri Caine

With Faith Evans

With Joe Locke

With Pat Metheny Group

With Pat Metheny

With The Rippingtons

With Special EFX

With Eliane Elias

References

  1. 1 2 "The Dead Rock Stars Club - 2004 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  2. ↑ https://www.jazztimes.com/archives/jazz-standard-hosts-tribute-to-mark-ledford/?v=0b3b97fa6688
  3. ↑ "Final Cadence | Berklee". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  4. ↑ Jazz, All About (2004-11-04). "Jazz news: Singer Mark Ledford Passes". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  5. ↑ "Mark Ledford". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  6. ↑ "Noteworthy Alumni in the Field of Music: Mark Ledford '78". www.missourimilitaryacademy.org. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  7. ↑ "Smooth Jazz Vibes: Longtime Pat Metheny Group Member Dies After Heart Attack". Smoothvibes.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  8. ↑ Joe Locke - Storytelling, 2001, retrieved 2023-10-11
  9. ↑ "Music | Banff Centre". Banffcentre.ca. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  10. ↑ Mark Ledford - Miles 2 Go, 1998, retrieved 2023-10-11