Pam Mark Hall
Encyclopedia
Pam Mark Hall is a Christian singer, songwriter
, musician
and producer
.
, folk
and rock
in the 1960’s, Pam Mark Hall (PMH) began playing piano at age 6. By age 9, she was playing guitar, writing songs and performing as a soloist. She formed her first group at age 12, The Chantells, a trio of female vocalists who sang pop girl group
songs and a few PMH originals. By age 13, PMH had formed a folk group, The Town Folk Singers, with Vicki Stringfellow, Dave Richter and Andy Wade. They won several local and regional competitions. At 14, she helped form a local chapter of the world-renowned vocalist organization, Up With People
, in her hometown of Oroville, California
. Then in 1967, PMH traveled with a national cast of Up With People, performing in a trio with motion picture star, Glenn Close
. In 1968, as a varsity cheerleader, she performed a song she wrote for her mother for hundreds of attendees at a cheerleading camp. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the experience helped launch Pam Mark Hall’s solo career.
From 1969 to 1973, PMH attended American River Junior College and Sacramento State University while playing and singing at rallies, coffee houses and underground FM radio stations. She worked during summers at a retreat in Southern CA called Forest Home Conference Center. In addition to working in the bookstore or as a lifeguard, she performed most evenings for the collegiate conferees during the years, 1972-1973. After graduating from college in 1973, PMH worked on staff at Hollywood Presbyterian Church as liaison between youth outreach program, The Salt Company, and Hollywood High School
. During 1974 and 1975, she was an intern at Discovery Arts Guild (an extension of Peninsula Bible Church) in Palo Alto, CA with singer-songwriter, John Fischer
.
The year 1975 saw Pam Mark Hall record and release her first album, a classic folk offering, Flying, with the support of John Fischer, Larry James, Dan Collins and the Discovery Arts Guild.
Incorporating folk rock
and pop into her second release, 1977’s This Is Not A Dream added orchestral touches to PMH’s songs as a logical progression in her developing sound.
In 1980, Pam Mark Hall’s third release, Never Fades Away was a significant departure from the folk pop feel of her first two albums. Producer Fletch Wiley steered the arrangements toward jazzy pop rock
, as PMH’s music adopted a more varied approach.
Pam Mark Hall’s next project was a lullaby
album for children, Good Night Sleep Tight, which she produced in 1982. Other artists involved in the project included Noel Paul Stookey, Debby Boone
, John Fischer and Randy Stonehill
.
Moving into an ‘80’s pop rock style, PMH released 1984’s Supply And Demand
, with producer Keith Thomas
tailoring the songs in the pop hit styles of the day.
For 1986’s Keeper
, PMH enlisted folk pop rock veteran Wendy Waldman to cover production duties as the music took on more of a harder ‘80’s pop rock edge.
Returning from a seven-year hiatus from music to her acoustic music
roots, PMH released the sometimes bluesy, sometimes melancholy, folk pop masterpiece Paler Shade in 1993 to critical acclaim. A collection of deeply touching songs tastefully produced by guitarist Dave Perkins, Paler Shade ranks as one of the finest singer-songwriter
releases from the early ‘90’s.
Pam Mark Hall is a Grammy and Dove Award nominated artist. Notable artists such as Amy Grant
, Debby Boone, Noel Paul Stookey, Kathy Troccoli
and The Imperials
have recorded her songs.
After meeting and doing gigs together over 30 years ago in California, Pam Mark Hall and veteran pop
-rock
singer-songwriter
/record producer
/guitarist
/vocalist Jerry Chamberlain
joined forces as the duo, Pamelita and Parker, in the Fall of 2008.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
.
Career
Cutting her musical teeth on the renaissance explosion of popPop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, folk
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
in the 1960’s, Pam Mark Hall (PMH) began playing piano at age 6. By age 9, she was playing guitar, writing songs and performing as a soloist. She formed her first group at age 12, The Chantells, a trio of female vocalists who sang pop girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
songs and a few PMH originals. By age 13, PMH had formed a folk group, The Town Folk Singers, with Vicki Stringfellow, Dave Richter and Andy Wade. They won several local and regional competitions. At 14, she helped form a local chapter of the world-renowned vocalist organization, Up With People
Up with People
Up with People is an international education organization founded in 1968 by J. Blanton Belk, building from roots in the similar "Sing-Out" program of 1965. Up With People is best known for their musical performances by international casts consisting of 70–100 students from, on average, 20...
, in her hometown of Oroville, California
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
. Then in 1967, PMH traveled with a national cast of Up With People, performing in a trio with motion picture star, Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
. In 1968, as a varsity cheerleader, she performed a song she wrote for her mother for hundreds of attendees at a cheerleading camp. The response was overwhelmingly positive and the experience helped launch Pam Mark Hall’s solo career.
From 1969 to 1973, PMH attended American River Junior College and Sacramento State University while playing and singing at rallies, coffee houses and underground FM radio stations. She worked during summers at a retreat in Southern CA called Forest Home Conference Center. In addition to working in the bookstore or as a lifeguard, she performed most evenings for the collegiate conferees during the years, 1972-1973. After graduating from college in 1973, PMH worked on staff at Hollywood Presbyterian Church as liaison between youth outreach program, The Salt Company, and Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School
Hollywood High School is a Los Angeles Unified School District high school located at the intersection of North Highland Avenue and West Sunset Boulevard in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California.-History:...
. During 1974 and 1975, she was an intern at Discovery Arts Guild (an extension of Peninsula Bible Church) in Palo Alto, CA with singer-songwriter, John Fischer
John Fischer
- Musicians :* John Fischer , Belgian/American jazz pianist, composer electronic painter and sculptor born in 1930* John Fischer , singer/songwriter who is one of the credited founders of Jesus music and Senior Writer with PurposeDrivenLife.com* John Fischer, co-founder of the hard rock band Full...
.
The year 1975 saw Pam Mark Hall record and release her first album, a classic folk offering, Flying, with the support of John Fischer, Larry James, Dan Collins and the Discovery Arts Guild.
Incorporating folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
and pop into her second release, 1977’s This Is Not A Dream added orchestral touches to PMH’s songs as a logical progression in her developing sound.
In 1980, Pam Mark Hall’s third release, Never Fades Away was a significant departure from the folk pop feel of her first two albums. Producer Fletch Wiley steered the arrangements toward jazzy pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
, as PMH’s music adopted a more varied approach.
Pam Mark Hall’s next project was a lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
album for children, Good Night Sleep Tight, which she produced in 1982. Other artists involved in the project included Noel Paul Stookey, Debby Boone
Debby Boone
Deborah Anne Boone is an American singer and stage actress. She is best known for her 1977 hit, "You Light Up My Life," which spent a then record ten weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and led to her winning the Grammy Award for Best New Artist the following year...
, John Fischer and Randy Stonehill
Randy Stonehill
Randall Evan "Randy" Stonehill is an American singer-songwriter from Stockton, California, best known as one of the so-called "fathers of contemporary Christian music". His music is primarily folk rock in the style of James Taylor, but he has assayed other styles, with various albums focused on...
.
Moving into an ‘80’s pop rock style, PMH released 1984’s Supply And Demand
Supply and demand
Supply and demand is an economic model of price determination in a market. It concludes that in a competitive market, the unit price for a particular good will vary until it settles at a point where the quantity demanded by consumers will equal the quantity supplied by producers , resulting in an...
, with producer Keith Thomas
Keith Thomas
Keith Thomas may refer to:*Keith Thomas , Australian rules footballer*Keith Thomas , Welsh historian*Keith Thomas , Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter*Keith Thomas , Saxophonist, writer and producer...
tailoring the songs in the pop hit styles of the day.
For 1986’s Keeper
Keeper
-People:* Cyril Keeper , Canadian politician* Joe Keeper , Canadian long distance runner and Olympian* The Keeper of the Register, Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places* Gamekeeper* Lighthouse keeper* Museum curator...
, PMH enlisted folk pop rock veteran Wendy Waldman to cover production duties as the music took on more of a harder ‘80’s pop rock edge.
Returning from a seven-year hiatus from music to her acoustic music
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
roots, PMH released the sometimes bluesy, sometimes melancholy, folk pop masterpiece Paler Shade in 1993 to critical acclaim. A collection of deeply touching songs tastefully produced by guitarist Dave Perkins, Paler Shade ranks as one of the finest singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
releases from the early ‘90’s.
Pam Mark Hall is a Grammy and Dove Award nominated artist. Notable artists such as Amy Grant
Amy Grant
Amy Lee Grant is an American singer-songwriter, musician, author, media personality and actress, best known for her Christian music. She has been referred to as "The Queen of Christian Pop"...
, Debby Boone, Noel Paul Stookey, Kathy Troccoli
Kathy Troccoli
Kathleen Colleen "Kathy" Troccoli is a contemporary Christian singer, author, and speaker.-Personal:Born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 24, 1958, Troccoli moved at age three and was raised in Islip Terrace, Long Island, New York, graduating from East Islip High School. At 15, she lost her father...
and The Imperials
The Imperials
The Imperials are an American Christian music group that has been around for over 45 years. Originating as a southern gospel quartet, the innovative group would become pioneers of contemporary Christian music in the 1960s. There have been many changes for the band in membership and musical styles...
have recorded her songs.
After meeting and doing gigs together over 30 years ago in California, Pam Mark Hall and veteran pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
-rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
/record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
/guitarist
Guitarist
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...
/vocalist Jerry Chamberlain
Jerry Chamberlain
Jerry Chamberlain , is a United States singer, songwriter, guitarist, and producer, best known for his work with the rock bands Daniel Amos and The Swirling Eddies ....
joined forces as the duo, Pamelita and Parker, in the Fall of 2008.