Mark Farner

Mark Farner was born on September 29, 1948, in Flint, Michigan, United States. He took guitar lessons during his school years and put various high school bands together. In 1969, he started the original Grand Funk Railroad trio band with his teenage friends Mel Schacher and Don Brewer. They first appeared at the opening of the Atlanta International Pop Festival in July 1969. Mark Farner's unmistakable voice and songwriting talent was the driving force behind the band's success in the early 1970's. The Grand Funk Railroad made 12 platinum and 15 gold albums. In 1971 Mark Farner and the original Grand Funk Railroad set the record at New York's Shea Stadium: they sold out in 71 hours, surpassing the previous record set by The Beatles in 1966. Their record still stands today. After Grand Funk disbanded in 1977, Farner made a solo career. He reunited with the Grand Funk Railroad for a concert tour in 1981-1983 which was released on album 'Grand Funk Lives' (1981). During the 1980's he toured with his own band, and from 1994 to 1995, Farner toured with Ringo Starr's Allstars. In the late 1990's he again reunited with Grand Funk for a few tour gigs. Since 1999 Mark Farner has been touring with his own band named Nr'G.