M   A   R   K

F   A   R   N   E   R

LEGENDARY GUITARIST-SINGER-SONGWRITER

OF

G R A N D   F U N K  R A I L R O A D

AND

M A R K   F A R N E R 'S 

A M E R I C A N   B A N D

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW

Legendary all-American frontman and guitarist, Mark Farner, was the engine that pulled the original Grand Funk Railroad repeatedly to the top of the charts, and today he’s a platinum recording artist 30 times over. At age 71, Farner commands the stage with the same intensity and outpouring of love as he did during the summer of ’69 and his fans are still flocking to see “the Captain.” The rock patriot’s synergy and open heart still come through in epic hits that defined a generation including— “I’m Your Captain” (Closer to Home)”  “We’re An American Band” “Heartbreaker” “Bad Time To Be In Love” and recut covers of  “The Loco-Motion” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.”  Being viewed as a “Rockstar” is only one facet of the legacy of this Michigan-born son.   Mark is as real as they get: he’s a husband, a father, and grandfather, and in his fourth decade of marriage to wife Lesia. He’s a true family man.

“I think our fans originally connected to our songs because we were sincere” Farner said. “My lyrics were about Mother Earth, stopping the war, and all about love. They still have a point of reference with me in their heart.”

After the 1969 Atlantic Pop Festival put Grand Funk Railroad on the fast track, the band topped the Billboard Chart twice with both the anthem “We’re an American Band” (1973) and 1974’s “The Loco-Motion.” The Flint, Michigan trio reached the top 10 again with “Some Kind of Wonderful” (No. 3) and “Bad Time” (No. 4) before GFR disbanded for the first time in 1976. Farner briefly rejoined Grand Funk during the 1980s and 1990s and he has collaborated with many other artists over the years.  However, his focus has been to forge an enduring solo career based upon bringing his message of love to his fans in all corners of the world.

“Love is unconditional,” he explains. “Just like when you hold a baby, the love transfers. I feel that love from the audience when I’m on stage.”

The son of a World War II veteran, four-time bronze star recipient and career fireman, Farner also knows the importance of brotherhood and commitment. On his mother’s side, he champions his Cherokee heritage and the fact that his mother was the first woman welder in the United States to weld on a tank during World War 2. It just so happened to be the same type of Sherman tanks his father drove. Farner’s work on and off the stage is focused on honoring service personnel and veterans and offering support to American farmers, individuals with disabilities, and downtrodden populations.

Farner, the rock patriot that he is, works tirelessly to honor our nation’s service personnel and Veterans wherever they are stationed. He wants everyone to remember the huge sacrifices our men and women in the armed services freely give; all to protect our amazing country and freedoms.

Over 50 years later something magical still happens when Farner takes the stage.  His voice is still strong and on key, his guitar playing still slick and lighting quick, and his trademark prancing still commands the stage and mesmerizes his audiences around the world.

“I love playing live where I can connect with people of all backgrounds,” he said. “It’s all about the fans…and all about love.”

For more information about

MARK FARNER

visit

Mark Farner Official Website

https://www.facebook.com/MarkFarnerAmericanBand/

Mark Farner on Facebook

Twitter:  @REALMARKFARNER

YouTube: Mark Farner

Instagram: markfarners_americanband

Mark Farner's Mid-Michigan Flood Relief

Gofundme Page

Mark Farner Launches Mid-Michigan Flood Relief GoFundMe (Petoskey, Mich.) Legendary rock and roll guitarist and front man, Mark Farner, is helping those closer to home. This weekend he launched a GoFundMe campaign for his Michigan neighbors called the Mid-Michigan Flood Relief. The goal is to raise $25,000 to donate to the American Red Cross’ efforts to the areas affected by the Midland County flooding. Farner and his wife, Lesia, were the first to donate with $2,000.

 Link to the Mark Farner Mid-Michigan Flood Relief GoFundMe here…

https://www.gofundme.com/f/mark-farner039s-midmichigan-flood-relief

http://www.moxiepublicity.com/

moxie publicity official website

Joe Madison is a radio talk show host and civil rights activist.  He can be heard every weekday morning on SiriusXM Urban View. 

Joe Madison is a groundbreaking radio personality and civil rights activist who has devoted his career to raising awareness about issues around the world, encouraging dialogue among people of different backgrounds, and raising money to support multicultural education and institutions. Known as“The Black Eagle,” Joe can be heard weekday mornings on SiriusXM’s Urban View.

While majoring in sociology at Washington University, Joe was an All-Conference running back and baritone soloist with the University’s concert choir.

As a young adult, Joe worked in urban affairs at Seymour & Lundy Associates and was active in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). At age 24, he became the youngest executive director of the NAACP’s Detroit branch, then rose to the position of director of the NAACP Political Action Department in 1978 before becoming a member of the national board.

Joe’s radio career began in 1980 at Detroit’s WXYZ-AM. In the early 1990s, he joined an otherwise white lineup at WWRC-AM. There, he worked to develop crossover appeal while discussing racial and other issues with the station’s multiracial audience. In the late 1990s, Joe started his own online talk show before moving to Washington, D.C.’s WOL-AM. The popularity of this led to syndication on the Radio One Talk Network and its XM satellite channel.

Joe uses his show as a platform for inspiring action on critical issues affecting the African American community. In 2013 and 2014, he hosted a series about the 1960s civil rights movement, featuring guests like the Reverend Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon Johnson. In 2015, Joe set a Guinness World Recordfor the longest on-air broadcast, 52 hours, which raised more than $200,000 for the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

Joe has also brought international attention to the struggles of the Sudanese people through 90 days of peaceful protests outside of the U.S. Embassy in Washington, D.C. He delivered survival kits to refugees and freed Sudanese people being held as slaves. In 2015, he led a campaign to secure a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame for comedian, activist, and former St. Louisan Dick Gregory.

A Fellow of the William Greenleaf Eliot Society, Joe has generously supported scholarships, athletics, and the Gephardt Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at Washington University. He has interviewed students for admission to Washington University for over 20 years.

Joe lives in Washington, D.C., with his wife, Sharon. The couple has four children and five grandchildren.

BIOGRAPHY

Lindsey grew up in Boulder and has 10 years of communications and public relations experience, and has worked for nonprofit organizations, diplomatic office, and political offices on the local, state and federal levels. Prior to joining Colorado Rising Action, Lindsey was the communications director for the Montana Legislature’s Republican leadership, working directly under the Speaker of the House. She also served as the state press secretary for Montana’s U.S. Senator Steve Daines. Lindsey attended the University of Colorado – Boulder and Quinnipiac University. She lives in Highlands Ranch with her fiance.

COLORADO RISING ACTION

Colorado Rising Action is focused on holding liberal groups and their special interest networks accountable and advancing conservative principles. We’re fighting for limited government, lowering taxes, fighting government over-regulation that stifles freedom, free enterprise, a strong national security, and shaping the public policy debate in the Centennial State.

Patrick Neville is an American politician and a member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 45th District, which includes much of Douglas County. A Republican, Neville currently serves as the Minority Leader of the House, having been elected to this position at the beginning of his second term in January 2017.

DOUGLAS “THE CROONER” ROEGIERS

With a voice that harkens back to the golden age of Hollywood, Douglas Roegiers is a highly skilled and extremely versatile entertainer who channels back to the great days of the Big Band Swing era made infamous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darin and Bing Crosby. His one-of-a-kind style and persona are larger than life and his live show is a must-see! 

His loyal fans know him as ‘The Crooner’ and he lives up to the title in every sense of the word, bringing his smooth and classy sound to public and private performances around the world. Douglas gained notoriety when he was coined ‘Best of LA’ by LA Magazine. He later made a splash across television screens nationwide on NBC’s ‘The Winner is’ while also performing regularly at Universal Studios. 

During the “Great Quarantine of 2020,” Douglas is performing a weekly Facebook Live show every Saturday at 6pm (PST). Douglas also performs private Zoom parties, too!