Mark Lindsay's professional singing career began as the
fifteen-year-old rockabilly vocalist in an Idaho country group known as
Freddy Chapman and the Idaho Playboys. Freddy was a DJ at the country
station KFXD out of Nampa, Idaho and recruited Mark after hearing about a
"real talented kid" who had just won a local talent contest.
A year later, when Freddy's radio career took him out of the area, Mark
heard about a band that was playing at the local IOOF Hall. They were so
new that they didn't even have a name yet. He took off his thick glasses,
walked up to the stage, and asked to sing a song -- "Crazy
Arms". Overcome with shyness, he ran off the stage after his
performance.
This was the start of "Paul Revere & The
Raiders".
By 1963 Paul Revere & the Raiders, dressed in their Revolutionary war
uniforms and Mark with his pony tail, became one of the most popular bands
in the country. As Mark's profile was showcased on the cover of many
prominent magazines, his popularity as a teen idol was becoming legendary.
In 1965, Paul Revere and the Raiders were one of the featured performers
of the immensely popular 5-day a week ABC Television music show
"Where The Action Is". The Raiders owned the 1966 charts with
hits like "Just Like Me",
"Kicks", "Hungry", and “Good
Thing", which Mark also wrote.
Between ‘67-’71 they had 14 top 40 hits including their number one hit
“Indian Reservation”. The Raiders appeared as guests on several
hundred network programs, including the Johnny Carson, Jack Benny, Ed
Sullivan, Smothers Brothers, Lucille Ball, Glen Campbell, and Red Skelton
Shows.
In 1969, Mark expressed an interest in producing fellow Raider Freddy
Weller, and the result was the debut of Freddy's country career on
Columbia Records. Mark produced several singles and albums for Freddy,
including the hit "Games People Play".
Mark was a solo star at the same time he was in one of Americas number one
Rock n’ Roll bands. In 1970 he went solo with a pair of top 40 hits "Arizona"
and "Silver Bird" as well
as 3 best-selling albums. Mark Lindsay has sold over 50 million
records ...
In 1974, Mark left the Raiders, and began a career that kept him
"behind the scenes" for several years. As head of A & R for
United Artists Records, he continued to demonstrate his remarkable musical
ability. He was instrumental in the success of Jerry Rafferty's smash
single "Baker Street"; numerous Kenny Rogers hit singles, and
many other prominent tunes. He has been a guest on TV shows “Married
with Children” and "The Oprah Winfrey Show”.
MARK LINDSAY