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His musical roots trace back to idyllic summer evenings spent on the front porch with his family, sharing the day's events and whiling away the hours singing song after song. A few short years later, these impromptu "practices" would bring the Bishop family to the forefront of Southern Gospel Music radio and the concert circuit. Mark, along with his brother Kenny and his father Kenneth, toured the country for seventeen years as popular family-group, The Bishops. During their career, the group enjoyed enormous success, with twenty-five recordings that produced twenty-seven Top 40 songs, including twelve Top 5 songs and three Number 1 songs. The group also received numerous awards from their fans and peers in Gospel Music. Mark's contribution to the group was not only as a gifted vocalist, but also as the group's primary songwriter. Ten of The Bishops Top 10 songs were written by Mark, including the notable songs "Reach The World," "When Jesus Is All That I Have," and "You Can't Ask Too Much of My God," the latter being named "Song of the Year" by the Southern Gospel Music Songwriter's Association in 1997. In addition, Marks songs have been recorded by dozens of other Gospel Music artists down through the years, including such notables as The Kingsmen, Legacy Five, Brian Free and Assurance, Allison Durham Speer, and others. Church choirs across America have performed his songs. Mark's compositions have been performed on TV programs such as In Touch with Charles Stanley, The Word Today with John Hagee, The Grand Ole Opry, The Bill Gaither Homecoming series and others. In addition to being recognized for his singing and songwriting abilities, Mark was honored in 2000 by the GMA (Gospel Music Association) with a DOVE award for producing The Bishop's Kentucky Bluegrass album. Recorded for Homeland Records, this album was named "Best Bluegrass Gospel Album of the Year" by the GMA. Upon the retirement of The Bishops in 2001, and with the encouragement of friends, family and peers, Mark Bishop embarked upon a solo career that has since flourished. Audiences have discovered that the music of Mark Bishop is more relevant and anointed than ever. Eight years and eight albums later, Mark Bishop has enjoyed nearly unprecedented success as a soloist in Southern Gospel Music. In a music form that has often revolved around quartets and groups, Mark has carved out a niche for himself by continuing to introduce music to the listener that speaks to the heart and soul. As a soloist, Mark has enjoyed sixteen Top 40 songs, five Top 5 songs and two back-to-back #1 songs in 2004 and 2005 with Can I Pray For You and I Got Here As Fast As I Could. Mark was named the Singing News Magazine's Soloist of the Year in 2005, as voted on by the fans of Gospel Music, and his Everyday album was nominated for best Southern Gospel Album by the GMA in 2008. He has continued to perform on many of the industry's top concerts and high-profile events. He is one of only three soloists to ever sing on the main stage at the National Quartet Convention. Audiences across the country have been blessed by Mark's performances and have discovered that a concert with Mark is indeed an uplifting event. His voice is instantly recognizable and familiar to fans of Southern Gospel Music; his beautifully crafted songs are encouraging and insightful; his presentation is engaging, endearing and multifaceted. When he isn't traveling and performing, Mark can be found at home in Irvine, Kentucky with his wife Carolyn and their daughters, Courtney and Haley. Mark records exclusively for Sonlite Records. To schedule Mark Bishop for your concert or church event, contact The Harper Agency at (615) 851-4500 or visit them online at www.harperagency.com |
