Today we’d like to introduce you to Mark Chaney.
Hi Mark, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
MARK CHANEY
Mark Chaney is a life-long musician and band leader, a staple of the northern Utah music scene for many years. The Saliva Sisters, the JazzBros, the Johnny People, Twisted Brother and the Bel Airs are a few of the bands that Mark has worked with. National and international artists have utilized his talents, including Bobby McFerrin, Elvin Bishop, Serge Krief, Herb Ellis, and Mike Miller. A career highlight was backing up his three favorite comedians, Joan Rivers, Don Rickles and Rodney Dangerfield. As a bandleader, he has enjoyed two European tours, including a spot at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Mark composed original scores for the successful PBS documentaries, “Salt Lake-Once Upon a Time,” and the “Utah in the Fifties” series.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
To say it is a rough road for musicians/artists, especially since covid, would be a great understatement. Many of us didn’t make it through the maelstrom, none of us made it unscathed. Live music has been one of the three facets of my business, along with teaching private music lessons, and at one time I was involved with three family music stores. All have been negatively affected by various factors. However, I’ll keep playing for as long as I can, and I truly believe that I am part of the last generation of musicians that will be able to make it a full time occupation.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Mark Chaney has taught music lessons, in both private and group settings, for over 50 years. He taught band, orchestra and choir for private and public schools for eight years, and still maintains a busy live music schedule throughout the intermountain west, and travels extensively from his home base of Blue Sky Studio in Salt Lake City. He is known as a long-time bandleader, and has played for many of the concert series in the wasatch front area.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
People say that they support live music, but only for travelling acts. If I travel outside my local area, I’m the outsider, but for musicians to exist, they must play in their home area on a regular basis. Please adopt your favorite group or groups, follow them whenever possible. Hire them for your events, bring friends, recommend them whenever possible. There is no guarantee that they will still be there in six months or a year, in fact, it’s almost certain that they won’t be. Yes, things are that bad. If people don’t get compensated for their efforts, they cease to exist as a viable entity. Think back to your favorite bands of the past, local, regional and national. Do they still exist?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://markdrumschaney.wordpress.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markdrumschaney/
