Mark Stuart (musician)
Encyclopedia
Mark Allen Stuart is a Christian rock
musician, and is best known for being the vocalist for the now-retired Christian
rock band
Audio Adrenaline
.
parents Drex and Jo Stuart. His father is an ordained minister. When Mark was younger, his parents spent four years in Haiti
as missionaries. Mark also has an older brother named Dave, and a younger sister named Kelly.
Mark attended Kentucky Christian College
where he obtained a degree in Secondary Education for Science and Math. Mark says "I can teach physics, calculus, and chemistry." Originally, he was planning to pursue his goal of becoming an aeronautical engineer.
and bassist
for Audio Adrenaline, Barry Blair & Will McGinniss, while attending Kentucky Christian College (now known as Kentucky Christian University
). Barry Blair was Mark's roommate for three years. They founded the band in 1986 under the name of A-180. However, they temporarily disbanded the next year when Mark went to Haiti
for a semester. When he returned to Kentucky, the band reformed and recruited Bob Herdman
, who brought them two songs to record. After they did, they changed their name to Audio Adrenaline and signed a deal with Forefront Records
. After more than twenty years of success with the band and eight studio albums, Stuart and the band decided to retire on January 2006. The primary reason cited was Stuart's "ongoing vocal challenges" stemming from vocal cord damage after years of performing.
, in 1995. They divorced in 2005. Stuart married his current wife, Aegis, in February 2007. They live in Franklin, Tennessee
with two children they adopted from Haiti.
On January 12, 2010, Mark, his parents (Drex & Jo), and his wife Aegis were working at the Hands and Feet Project in Jacmel
, Haiti
when the earthquake
struck Port-au-Prince
. None at the Project were injured by the quake, and Mark was able to get the word out about the plight of the residents of Jacmel via multiple Skype
interviews with media outlets such as CNN
, MSNBC
and BBC
, among others. He assisted with relief efforts in Jacmel
until he returned to the U.S. on January 22, when he continued to assist by raising funds through continued coordination of relief efforts and organization of benefit concerts.
Christian rock
Christian rock is a form of rock music played by individuals and bands whose members are Christians and who often focus the lyrics on matters concerned with the Christian faith. The extent to which their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies between bands...
musician, and is best known for being the vocalist for the now-retired Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline
Audio Adrenaline was a Christian rock band that formed in the late 1980s at Kentucky Christian University in Grayson, Kentucky. During the band's 17-year existence, they were awarded two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and they released 17 number one singles. They were regular performers at the...
.
Early life
Mark Stuart was born to missionaryMissionary
A missionary is a member of a religious group sent into an area to do evangelism or ministries of service, such as education, literacy, social justice, health care and economic development. The word "mission" originates from 1598 when the Jesuits sent members abroad, derived from the Latin...
parents Drex and Jo Stuart. His father is an ordained minister. When Mark was younger, his parents spent four years in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as missionaries. Mark also has an older brother named Dave, and a younger sister named Kelly.
Mark attended Kentucky Christian College
Kentucky Christian University
Kentucky Christian University is a comprehensive baccalaureate level Christian university located in Grayson, Kentucky. It was founded on December 1, 1919, as Christian Normal Institute, by J. W. Lusby and J. O. Snodgrass. As a "normal school" its programs included a high school, a junior...
where he obtained a degree in Secondary Education for Science and Math. Mark says "I can teach physics, calculus, and chemistry." Originally, he was planning to pursue his goal of becoming an aeronautical engineer.
Audio Adrenaline
Mark Stuart met the original guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
for Audio Adrenaline, Barry Blair & Will McGinniss, while attending Kentucky Christian College (now known as Kentucky Christian University
Kentucky Christian University
Kentucky Christian University is a comprehensive baccalaureate level Christian university located in Grayson, Kentucky. It was founded on December 1, 1919, as Christian Normal Institute, by J. W. Lusby and J. O. Snodgrass. As a "normal school" its programs included a high school, a junior...
). Barry Blair was Mark's roommate for three years. They founded the band in 1986 under the name of A-180. However, they temporarily disbanded the next year when Mark went to Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
for a semester. When he returned to Kentucky, the band reformed and recruited Bob Herdman
Bob Herdman
Bob Mortimer Herdman is a Christian musician, songwriter and producer more known for being a member of the band Audio Adrenaline.-Biography:...
, who brought them two songs to record. After they did, they changed their name to Audio Adrenaline and signed a deal with Forefront Records
ForeFront Records
ForeFront Records is a Christian Music record label founded in 1987 by Dan R. Brock, Eddie DeGarmo, Dana Key, and Ron W. Griffin. It was purchased by EMI in 1996 from current owners Dan R. Brock and Eddie DeGarmo and is now part of the EMI Christian Music Group.In 1998, ForeFront released a 2-CD...
. After more than twenty years of success with the band and eight studio albums, Stuart and the band decided to retire on January 2006. The primary reason cited was Stuart's "ongoing vocal challenges" stemming from vocal cord damage after years of performing.
After Audio Adrenaline
Mark Stuart and Will McGinniss have recently started a project called Know Hope Collective. The project will feature a changing group of musicians that will sing worship songs and present testimonies.Personal life
Stuart married Kerri McKeehan, sister of Toby McKeehanToby McKeehan
Toby McKeehan , better known by his stage name TobyMac , is a Christian recording artist, music producer, hip-hop/pop artist, singer-songwriter, and author....
, in 1995. They divorced in 2005. Stuart married his current wife, Aegis, in February 2007. They live in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
with two children they adopted from Haiti.
Missionary work
Stuart has visited Haiti consistently to help with missionary efforts. He started the Hands and Feet Project in 2004 along with Audio Adrenaline.On January 12, 2010, Mark, his parents (Drex & Jo), and his wife Aegis were working at the Hands and Feet Project in Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
, Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
when the earthquake
2010 Haiti earthquake
The 2010 Haiti earthquake was a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake, with an epicentre near the town of Léogâne, approximately west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake occurred at 16:53 local time on Tuesday, 12 January 2010.By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks...
struck Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
. None at the Project were injured by the quake, and Mark was able to get the word out about the plight of the residents of Jacmel via multiple Skype
Skype
Skype is a software application that allows users to make voice and video calls and chat over the Internet. Calls to other users within the Skype service are free, while calls to both traditional landline telephones and mobile phones can be made for a fee using a debit-based user account system...
interviews with media outlets such as CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, among others. He assisted with relief efforts in Jacmel
Jacmel
Jacmel, also known by its indigenous Taíno name of Yaquimel, is a town in southern Haiti founded in 1698. It is the capital of the department of Sud-Est and has an estimated population of 40,000, while the municipality of Jacmel had a population of 137,966 at the 2003 Census.The buildings are...
until he returned to the U.S. on January 22, when he continued to assist by raising funds through continued coordination of relief efforts and organization of benefit concerts.
Contributions to other artists
- Mark Stuart was producer for two-time Grammy Nominated and now Platinum-selling artist singer/songwriter Jennifer KnappJennifer KnappJennifer Lynn Knapp is an American-Australian folk rock, and formerly contemporary Christian musician. She is best known for her first single "Undo Me" from her debut album Kansas , and the song "A Little More" from her Grammy Award-nominated album Lay It Down . The Way I Am , was also nominated...
's hit album KansasKansas (Jennifer Knapp album)Kansas is the first major label studio album by Christian folk rock musician Jennifer Knapp. It was released in 1998 on Gotee Records. The album went on to sell 500,000 copies in the U.S., and was certified Gold.-Release:...
, and co-produced her first Grammy nominated album Lay It DownLay It Down (Jennifer Knapp album)Lay It Down is the second album by Christian rock and folk musician Jennifer Knapp. It was released on February 29, 2000 under Gotee Records...
with Knapp. - In the rock opera !Hero!Hero!HERO is a rock opera about Jesus. It is based on the question, "What if Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?". After the original tour in 2003 ended, it was released on DVD, CD, and was written into a trilogy of novels and series of comic books....
(in 2003), Mark starred as Petrov, a character based on the apostle PeterSaint PeterSaint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
. He starred alongside such notables as Michael TaitMichael TaitMichael DeWayne Tait is a Contemporary Christian Music artist. Michael Tait met Toby McKeehan and Kevin Max while attending Liberty University in the late 1980s, and formed four-time grammy winning band DC Talk, with whom he released 5 acclaimed studio albums...
, T-Bone and Rebecca St. JamesRebecca St. JamesRebecca St. James , is a Christian pop rock singer, songwriter, musician, author, and actor. She began performing in Australia in the late 1980s and released her first full-length studio album in 1991. In 1993 she was signed to the record label ForeFront Records and released her major label debut a...
. - Mark has Executive Producer credit on the albums: The Healing of HarmsThe Healing of HarmsThe Healing of Harms is the first non-independent studio album released by Christian rock band Fireflight in 2006. The album was Fireflight's first release on Flicker Records...
by FireflightFireflightFireflight is an American Christian rock band formed in Eustis, Florida in 1999. The band is signed by Flicker Records. They have played in Shoutfest, Revelation Generation, and have been featured on The Scars Remain tour with Disciple, Family Force 5, and Decyfer Down...
; A Love Hate MasqueradeA Love Hate MasqueradeA Love Hate Masquerade is the final album from Kids in the Way. A music video was made for the song "Fiction".-Track listing:#"Your Demon"#"Better Times"#"The Innocence"#"Letting Go"#"My Little Nightmare"#"Far From Over"#"Sugar"...
by Kids in the WayKids in the WayKids in the Way is a rock band from Noblesville, Indiana. The band was formed in 1997 under the name Serenity, and later disbanded in mid-2007. The band recently reunited and is currently on tour in Germany entitled Back in the Game Tour.-Biography:...
; The Twenty-First Time by Monk & NeagleMonk & NeagleMonk & Neagle are an American CCM duo from Amarillo, Texas, composed of Trent Monk and Michael Neagle.-History:Monk and Neagle met in college; after graduating, Neagle worked as a pastor while Monk released two solo albums through Grassroots Music, I Wait and Stars Would Fall...
; Conquering the Fear of FlightConquering the Fear of FlightConquering The Fear Of Flight is Wavorly's first album, which was released June 12, 2007 nationwide in the United States. The album has received significant attention from Christian press outlets. Two singles, "Madmen" and "Part One", have both reached #1 on Christian rock radio stations...
by WavorlyWavorly-History:Wavorly formed in 2001 under the name Freshmen 15, and independently released two albums under this name. The group changed its name after signing to Flicker Records because they "didn't want to be thirty years old and be like, 'I'm in "Freshmen 15". I have three kids.'" The name Wavorly...
; Where Do We Go from HereWhere Do We Go from Here (album)Where Do We Go from Here is the third album by Christian metal band Pillar. The song "Bring Me Down" was frequently played on Christian radio stations and was heavily requested on secular stations as well. It was featured on the 2005 Major League Baseball video game, MLB 2006, as well as the...
and Fireproof by PillarPillar (band)Pillar is a Christian rock band currently located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Their sixth studio album, Confessions, was released in 2009.- Formation and independent albums :...
; and Bone-Appetit!Bone-Appetit!Bone-Appetit: Servin' Up Tha Hits is the ninth official album from Christian rapper, T-Bone. It is a combination of greatest hits from his past three albums plus some exclusives and hard-to-find fan favorites. It was released September 25, 2007...
by T-BoneT-Bone (rapper)T-Bone is a Christian rapper. His father is Nicaraguan and his mother is Salvadoran. His name came from being called 'Bones' as a youngster because he was very skinny...
, among others. - Mark is featured on the tracks: "Lord" from the compilation album Your Name (2008); "Sing Your Praises" from the T-Bone album Bone-Appetit! (2007); and "Air" from the compilation album, Soul Lift (2001).