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| Mark Ledford | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 1960 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | November 1, 2004(2004-11-01) (aged 43–44) Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | Jazz, R&B, pop-rap, hip hop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer, record producer, audio engineer |
| Instrument(s) | Trumpet, guitar |
| Years active | 1982–1998 |
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 grew up in Detroit and 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
- Faith (Bad Boy, 1995)
With Joe Locke
- Longing (Timeless, 1990)
- Storytelling (Sirocco, 2001)
With Pat Metheny Group
- Still Life (Talking) (Geffen, 1987)
- We Live Here (Geffen, 1995)
- Imaginary Day (Warner Bros., 1997)
With Pat Metheny
- Secret Story (Geffen, 1992)
With The Rippingtons
- Black Diamond (Windham Hill, 1997)
With Special EFX
- Global Village (GRP, 1992)
With Eliane Elias
- A Long Story (Manhattan, 1991)
References
- ^ "The Dead Rock Stars Club - 2004 July to December". Thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- "Final Cadence | Berklee". www.berklee.edu. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- Jazz, All About (2004-11-04). "Jazz news: Singer Mark Ledford Passes". All About Jazz. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- "Mark Ledford". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- "Noteworthy Alumni in the Field of Music: Mark Ledford '78". www.missourimilitaryacademy.org. 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
- "Smooth Jazz Vibes: Longtime Pat Metheny Group Member Dies After Heart Attack". Smoothvibes.com. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- Joe Locke - Storytelling, 2001, retrieved 2023-10-11
- "Music | Banff Centre". Banffcentre.ca. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
- Mark Ledford - Miles 2 Go, 1998, retrieved 2023-10-11
External links
Categories:- 1960 births
- 2004 deaths
- American male trumpeters
- American blues guitarists
- American male guitarists
- American jazz drummers
- Pat Metheny Group members
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American guitarists
- 20th-century American drummers
- American male drummers
- 20th-century American trumpeters
- 20th-century American male singers
- American male jazz musicians