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.