MusicAmaze.com: Artist Directory: Mark Houle

Mark was born April of 1954 into a family of musicians (his father is a music teacher with a Masters Degree in Music Composition his mother is a singer and pianist). He grew up in the Los Angeles area surrounded by all types of great music, but when his brother formed a Rock band - that really got his attention. Mark was only nine, but a few years later he formed his first band - playing bass guitar and called it MIDNIGHT CREATION. Later on, in 1970, Mark took the opportunity to join his brother's band - playing bass, singing and co-writing songs. This solidified the final line-up of the musicians, and they got a "band house" to live and rehearse in. They wrote a lot of songs, played a lot of gigs and shopped a lot of demo recordings (enduring some lead singer and band name changes). After six years, the final incarnation of the group became HERO.

more pix of Mark in the Scrapbook

They found a manager - who found a producer which led to signing two major recording contracts. Mercury Records released their first album in 1977, and 20th Century Fox Records released their second album in 1978. Three singles were released, and the band's music was also featured in several movie soundtracks. For six more years, they performed all over Los Angeles including infamous night clubs The Whisky, The Roxy, The Troubadour, The Starwood and Gazzarri's - in Hollywood. After a twelve year run with the same group of players, HERO was disbanded in the early 1980's.

Since then, Mark has been in serveral other bands - playing bass, piano, guitar and writing songs. He has also recorded as a solo artist. With his wife Laurie, he has two sons Taylor and Harrison. Over the last several years, Mark has been working with his brother and father to plan and build MusicAmaze.