Music came to Mark at an early age. His parents used to sing to Mark and his brother at the breakfast table, his father beating out rhytms on cereal bowls and his mother doing most of the singing. When Mark was about seven he started taking piano lessons, and a few years later he also learned to play the guitar. His teacher was five years older than Mark and played in a band. This guy could play piano in blues style, and taught Mark things like "Watermelon Man" by Herbie Hancock on piano, and then he would teach Mark guitar stuff.
Mark started to study classical music and went to a musical college. After his college days, Mark became a full-time musician, working with a variety of people, from Sonny Bono's daughter to Danny Elfman. He also had a band of his own called Combination, which was managed by Gary Stamler (who also was Crowded House's US manager for about a decade). Combination had a record deal, but nothing happened and the group disbanded. Mark played with Sam[antha] Phillips and toured and recorded as a session musician with Supertramp. In 1989, he started working with Crowded House.
Crowded House had a keyboard situation occur whereby Mitchell Froom, their producer and session keyboardist on their first albums, didn't want to tour with the group. Initially, the group had hired former Split Enz keyboardist Eddie Rayner, but due to fatherhood he too had declined to continue as touring keyboardist, so Crowded House needed someone to replace him. The band's manager, Gary Stamler, recommended Mark, knowing him from his time with Combination. In 1992, after several tours with Crowded House, Mark became a permanent member prior to the recording of "Together Alone".
Mark Hart lives in Los Angeles with his wife and their two daughters.
BANDS: Combination
Crowded House 1992- (one studio album to date)
SESSION TOURS: Supertramp 1987-88
Crowded House 1989
Tim Finn 1989
Crowded House Sep.1991-July 1992
PRODUCTIONS: Tim Finn "Before And After", CD, 1993 (two tracks)
Emma Paki CD (as yet unreleased)
SESSIONS: Supertramp "Free As A Bird", LP, 1987
Supertramp "Live '88", LP, 1988
Crowded House "I Feel Possessed" (bonus tracks), single, 1989
Pretenders "Packed", LP, 1990
Crowded House "Woodface", CD, 1991
Ringo Starr "Time Takes Time", CD, 1992
Tim Finn "Before And After", CD, 1993