Damon Marks (born October 6, 1971) is an American professional rock and roll guitarist, songwriter, record producer, and philanthropist. Marks is the founder of the Traveling Guitar Foundation, a non-profit that supplies underfunded school systems with support and musical instruments.[1] He is a spokesman for Merida Guitars and has performed with such artists as Alicia Keys and Bret Michaels.[2][3]
Damon Marks | |
|---|---|
 Damon Marks in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | October 6, 1971 Elizabeth, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Genres | Hard rock, heavy metal, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, Philanthropist |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1990–present |
| Website | damonmarks |
Equipment
editDamon presently holds full artist endorsements with Schecter Guitar Research and EMG, Inc. Damon primarily uses the Schecter Banshee Elite-6 FR S with the new sustainiac supercharger pickup system and the Hellraiser Hybrid C-1 FR with EMG Pickups 57/66.[4][5]
He also endorses the hand crafted Mérida Guitars DG15-SPGACES Diana Series Guitar and the T25-CES Trajan Series Nylon String Guitar.[6]
Discography (with Lipstick Magazine)
edit- Skin Deep – released August 5, 2008 via Nightmare Records
- Live in NYC – released April 28, 2008 via Lipstick Magazine
- "Skin Deep" – from Skin Deep, released 2008
Discography (with Livre')
edit- Jericho: Tribe of Joshua - released May 20, 2016, via Sony Music Entertainment
Traveling Guitar Foundation
editIn 2009, Damon founded the Traveling Guitar Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to ensure that school children have access to high-quality musical instruments and instruction.[1][7] By partnering with such sponsors as Schecter Guitars, Merida Guitars, and Blackstar Amplification, the foundation donates new instruments to underfunded schools nationally and internationally.[8] By 2015, the foundation had equipped 70 schools and 30,000 students with musical equipment.[9]
In early 2013, Damon went on his first celebrity USO tour.[10]
On October 24, 2014, Marks was presented with a street sign at a ceremony by Mayor Christian Bollwage of the city of Elizabeth, NJ where he grew up.[2][11]
On May 13, 2016, Marks was presented with a second street sign at a ceremony by Mayor Barbara McMorrow of the city of Freehold, NJ recognizing him for his contributions to the education of our children through his foundation. Marks was also presented with a proclamation that on Saturday May 15, 2016, being declared Damon Marks / Traveling Guitar Foundation day.[12]
References
edit
- ^ a b "Traveling Guitar Foundation contributes to music education at Robert Morris School No. 18 in Elizabeth". NJ.com. March 14, 2013.
- ^ a b Makin, Cheryl (April 18, 2015). "Traveling Guitar Foundation sets groundwork for success". Courier News.
- ^ Broadway World
- ^ "Damon Marks". Schecter Guitars.
- ^ "Damon Marks". EMG Pickups.
- ^ "Damon Marks". Merida Guitars. Archived from the original on March 10, 2014.
- ^ "Traveling Guitar Foundation". Traveling Guitar Foundation. Retrieved January 2, 2010.
- ^ "NJ guitarist donates instruments to local music programs". WPIX. June 9, 2017.
- ^ "David Tyree helps support music education". New York Daily News. April 24, 2015.
- ^ "Guitarist Damon Marks Reminds Troops and Their Families the USO is Always by Their Side during Morale-Boosting Tour to Germany" (Press release). USO. Archived from the original on July 22, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2013 – via Prweb.
- ^ "Street Dedication (temp) for Damon Marks/Traveling Guitar Found". City of Elizabeth NJ – City Hall. Retrieved October 24, 2014 – via Facebook.
- ^ "Freehold Township Mayor Barbara McMorrow, Damon Marks and Michael Palmisano". Traveling Guitar Foundation. May 17, 2016 – via YouTube.
External links
edit- Official website
- Damon Marks at AllMusic
- Traveling Guitar Foundation sets groundwork for success via myCentralJersey.com
