Mark Dillon’s life as musician started well before his birth. His grandfather was a founder of the 1930’s country act The Lonestar Players, a Depression era country band that played that played throughout the United States in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. His great uncle, Hank Jones, in addition to being with the Lone Star Players was the host of Louisiana’s Old South Jamboree from 1962 till 2001. Other members appeared on the Grand Ole Opry stage in the 50’s and 60’s. Mark was raised with the personal stories of Hank Williams, Dolly Parton, George Jones and other country greats. This is the foundation that Mark Dillon’s own music is built on.

Mark’s history as a professional musician is interesting in its own right. Raised near Rolling Prairie, IN (pop. 657) on land that was historically a Miami Indian campsite and a Methodist Minister’s retreat. He started playing guitar at the age of 5 and after graduating in the bottom quarter of his class, he went against all his parent’s wishes and studied music as (ha, ha, ha) a profession.  Mark established the repair shop at Front Porch Music in Valparaiso, Indiana and actually started to make a decent, respectable living. While in Valparaiso he established the Songwriters Association of Northern Indiana (SWANI) as well as studied songwriting and guitar with the likes of Norman Blake, Donovan, John Hartford, Steve Gillette, Martin Simpson and Mary Chapin Carpenter.

Mark began teaching English as well as directing high school band in Chatham County, NC.  He is often invited to speak at conferences and educational events on the subject of roots music education as well as music history. He currently plays guitar and banjo with The Zinc Kings, a band dedicated to preserving the music of the North Carolina piedmont. He also continues his solo career although it seems greatly slowed by the other demands of life.

Mark, who is currently the Music Technology Professor at GTCC, will be leading our Music Historical Series on the cultural influences of music in the U.S.

Mark teaches all historical elements of music here at the Randolph Arts Guild and has begun a new project here in Randolph County called the One Mic festival.

Performance Experience

• Performed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, (on tenor banjo)
• Premiered jazz pieces with trombone legend JJ Johnson
• Busked his way around Ireland.
• He’s appeared on a Kerrville songwriters compilation with the likes of Steve Gillette, Kevin So, and Chuck Brodski.
• He has appeared as multi-instrumental musician and producer on 15+ cds and in 2000 released his first solo album “A Certain Slant of Light” followed by “Apple Barn” in 2005.
• His stage show is known for its diversity ranging from the country tunes learned in his youth to the 12 string Middle Eastern slide pieces he is known to undertake when the mood seems appropriate.

Rosalee Bailey is an alumni of the UNC-Greensboro Music School where she earned her bachelor’s degree in music education. She is currently in her third year as a middle school chorus director in the Randolph County Schools System. Her love of music has provided plenty of opportunities for music-making such as: participating in the Carol Krueger Takadimi Workshops, advocating for music education in the offices of Senator Burr and former Senator Hagan, and performing the Berlioz Requiem in Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Rosalee teaches private and group piano here at the Randolph Arts Guild.

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