- Damon Marks
-
Damon Marks 
Damon Marks in 2008Background information Birth name Damon Marcantuono Born October 6, 1974
Livingston, New JerseyGenres Pop rock, hard rock, R&B Instruments Guitar, vocals Years active 1990 - present Associated acts Lipstick Magazine, Jermaine Paul, Elle Varner Website Official website Damon Marks (born Damon Marcantuono, October 6, 1974 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an Italian American professional rock and roll guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist.
Contents
Background
Influenced by his father, Tony Marks, an original member of Frankie Valli's first group, The Four Lovers, Damon began playing the guitar passionately when he was ten years old.[1] Since a young age, Damon has utilized his musical abilities in tandem with his impressive business acumen to achieve tremendous success in the music industry. Throughout his career, Damon has performed with a diverse range of rock artists including Tommy Aldridge, Marco Mendoza, Bruce Kulick, Bret Michaels, and Chris Caffery.
In early 2010, Damon also played guitar for R&B recording artist Jermaine Paul, the opening act for Alicia Keys "Freedom Tour". As a part of the tour, Damon played in numerous world-renowned arenas such as Madison Square Garden, the Prudential Center and the Trump Taj Mahal.[2] In February 2010, Damon also collaborated with J Records recording artist Elle Varner at the Highline Ballroom on a performance of her single "Welcome Home."[3]
Damon is nationally known as the founder of the Traveling Guitar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which provides equipment and support for school systems that are struggling to finance their music education programs.
Damon is also sponsored by ESP Guitars and Mogami Cable.
Damon Marks performing in 2009
Lipstick Magazine
In 2008, Damon helped launch the female-fronted rock band, Lipstick Magazine.[4] Damon co-produced the band's debut album, Skin Deep, alongside Grammy Award winning recording engineer and Multi-platinum producer Mike Plotnikoff. Damon also helped orchestrate the worldwide release of, Skin Deep. Skin Deep was also distributed nationally in both Walmart and Best Buy stores.
In support of the album, Lipstick Magazine undertook a national tour in which they opened for heavy metal icons such as Bret Michaels, Sebastian Bach, Extreme, Ratt, and Winger.[5] During the tour, they also performed at the Rocklahoma Festival.[5]
Philanthropy
In 2009, Damon founded the Traveling Guitar Foundation.[6] The Traveling Guitar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to ensure that school children have access to high-quality musical instruments and instruction during a time when school systems across the country are facing budgetary restraints.[7] Initially, the Foundation established a substantial presence in the New York tri state area. However, the Foundation's profile has recently grown on a national level, with clinics taking place in California and Georgia.[8] Moreover, superstar athletes such as Allan Houston, David Tyree, and Dikembe Mutombo have also taken notice of the Foundation’s mission and work.
By way of background, the Foundation accomplishes its mission in two ways. First, the Foundation travels to schools whose music programs are in jeopardy and give music educational clinics for the benefit of students. At each event, the Foundation enlists the help of both younger and established artists, such as SWIZZ BEATZ, Miranda Cosgrove (ICarly) and Darryl McDaniels of Run-DMC, to help showcase the power of music as an artistic platform, cultural force, and enjoyable activity.[9] In these clinics, Damon interacts directly with school children, providing them with musical instruction and emphasizing the importance of attaining an education.[10]
Second, the Foundation donates guitar kits and other instruments directly to the school's music program to help them sustain their musical education programs. After each clinic, Damon, as well as other members of the Foundation, check back with the school's administration and music faculty to make sure that the donated instruments are being used properly, and regularly, for the betterment of children's intellectual and creative development.
In support of the Foundation, Damon has appeared on the television stations WABC TV NY,NJ12 TV, WPIX CW11 Morning News. He has also appeared on the radio stations KTU cares, Q104.3, Z100 (Elvis Duran and the Morning Show), and Power 105.1 FM NYC. The Foundation's main sponsors include Line 6, Mogami Cable and Dean Guitars.[11] [12]
In 2011, Damon also plans to release a Traveling Guitar Foundation compilation album featuring various nationally-known recording artists as well as younger musicians and students who have benefited from the Foundation.[13]
Discography (with Lipstick Magazine)
Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions US US
RockUS
Hd. Rock2008 Skin Deep[14] - Release date: August 5, 2008
- Label: Nightmare Records
- - - Live albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions US US
RockUS
Hd. Rock2008 Live in NYC[15] - Release date: April 28, 2008
- Label: Lipstick Magazine
— — — Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions Album US
Main.US
Alt.US
Rock2008 "Skin Deep"[16] - - - Skin Deep References
- ^ "Video Interview with Damon Marks". http://www.youtube.com/fmslive#p/u/13/UM6jvSNTMNA. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ " "Damonmarks.com". http://www.damonmarks.com/lifeandtimes.html".
- ^ "Damon Marks Performs with Elle Varner". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccpfkfbzFOg&feature=youtu.be. Retrieved 8/3/2011.
- ^ "Lipstick Magazine Official Website". http://lipstickmagazine.net/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ a b "Lipstick Magazine Tour Schedule". http://lipstickmagazine.net/Schedule.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ " "travelingguitarfoundation.org". http://travelingguitarfoundation.org/".
- ^ "Traveling Guitar Foundation website". http://travelingguitarfoundation.org/. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Traveling Guitar Foundation - Events Listing". http://travelingguitarfoundation.org/events/. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Traveling Guitar Foundation Event Information". http://travelingguitarfoundation.org/about/. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Traveling Guitar Foundation - Biography". http://travelingguitarfoundation.org/about/. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Traveling Guitar Foundation Mogami Endorsement Information". http://www.mogamicable.com/mogami_users/page2.php. Retrieved 8/5/2011.
- ^ "Dean Guitars Interview with Damon Marks". http://www.deanguitars.com/news/content.php?id=70. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Fordham Music Show Interview". http://www.youtube.com/fmslive#p/u/0/e3JsLLaSYPA. Retrieved 2011-05-18.
- ^ "Lipstick Magazine CD Release Info". http://www.amazon.com/Skin-Deep/dp/B002KVCBWC/ref=sr_shvl_album_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306193319&sr=301-1. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- ^ "Lipstick Magazine Live Album Info". http://www.amazon.com/Lipstick-Magazine-Live-In-Nyc/dp/B00170JQA2. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
- ^ "Lipstick Magazine - "Skin Deep" Single Info". http://mp3.walmart.com/store/artist?albumId=102755464. Retrieved 2011-05-23.
Traveling Guitar Foundation Media Links
ABC NJ "VIEWPOINT" on May 9, 2010 (originally aired February 14, 2010)
NBC Nonstop Sound: Traveling Guitar Foundation
TGF on Z100
WPIX PIX11
The Traveling Guitar Foundation: Come Together | The Aquarian Weekly
Caring For Congo Awards Dinner And Benefit In (Atlanta, GA February 26, 2011)
Line 6 Blog about the Traveling guitar Foundation:
External links
Categories:- 1974 births
- Living people
- American rock drummers
- American rock guitarists
- Musicians from New Jersey
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
