Mark Beckett

Mark Beckett was born in Florence, Alabama, just a stones throw across the river from R&B music mecca, Muscle Shoals. Son of legendary keyboard player and record producer, Barry Beckett, music was always being heard in the Beckett home.

Mark began playing the drums after hearing Nashville session drummer, Eddie Bayers, on one of his dad's recording. Throughout his high school years, Mark did everything possible to learn to become a recording musician — including skipping school on almost a daily basis to watch and listen to his father and Eddie, being a fly on the wall during their recording sessions. When he wasn’t at the studio (or at school), Mark was on the drums, playing to the cassettes his dad would bring home from the days work.

Less than two years after receiving his first snare drum hit, Mark did his first recording session... and the rest is history. Having a 20+ year career in the music business, it appears that Mark has worked with just about everyone in industry, becoming one of the more "in-demand" drummers in Nashville.

Mark Beckett has recorded for and/or played live with such artists as Vince Gill, Barry Gibb, Kenny Chesney, Olivia Newton John, Merle Haggard, TOTO, Aaron Neville, Uncle Kracker, Tommy Shaw(Styx), Earl Scruggs, Emmylou Harris, James Burton, Charlie Daniels Band, Paul Williams, Lisa Marie Presley, Robben Ford, Keb Mo, Michael W. Smith, Michael McDonald, Patty Loveless, Billy Bob Thornton, Rodney Crowell, Dolly Parton, Little Jimmy Dickens, Joe Diffe, Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Steve Cropper, Brad Paisley, Ronnie Milsap, Emily West, Daryle Singletary, John Kay (Steppenwolf), Peter Frampton, Steve Wariner, Luke Bryan, T.G. Shepard, Ray Benson, Eddie Floyd, T. Graham Brown, Gary Puckett, Jimmy Webb, Con Hunley, William Bell, Kim Carnes, Candy Staton, Larry Gatlin, Judy Rodman, Restless Heart, Al Jardine (Beach Boys), Chris Young, Eric Heatherly, Delbert McClinton, Marty Stuart, Mel Tillis, Gail Davies, George Jones, Tanya Tucker, Justin Moore, Jim Glaser, Leona Williams, Sam the Sham, Andy Timmons, Warren Ham, Felix Cavaliere, Frankie Ballard, Sarah Darling, Casey James, Gretchen Wilson, Oak Ridge Boys, Joy & Rory, Mark Farner (Grand Funk RR), Confederate RR, Ricky Skaggs, Kip Moore, Jaron and the Long Road to Love, John Michael Montgomery, Mike Farris, John Anderson, Easton Corbin, Roy Clark, The Lennon Sisters, Darius Rucker, Eddy Raven, Doug Stone, Kelly Pickler, Sunny Sweeney, Lynn Anderson, Thomas Rhett, Jesse McReynolds, Joe Stampley, Jimmy Fortune(Statler Brothers), Charlie McCoy, Bill Gaither, Ronny Robbins, Montgomery Gentry, Tony Joe White, Point of Grace, Beth Nielson Chapman, Johnny Lee, Billy Burnette, B.J. Thomas, Mac Davis, The Funk Brothers, Thompson Square, Dallas Frazier, Ed Bruce, The Wrights, Sonya Issacs, Josh Turner, Lulu Roman, Andy Griggs, Trick Pony, Dailey and Vincent, Sherri Austin, Jack Ingrahm, The Issacs, Laura Bell Bundy, Josh Thompson, George Jones, Jo Dee Messina, Sammy Johns, Jon Randall, Jamey Johnson, Peter Gallager (OC), Hunter Hayes, Randy Montana, Andrew Peterson, Tyler Farr, David Frizzell, Randy Owen, James Wesley, Paul Overstreet, Steel Magnolias, Crystal Gayle, Dobie Grey, B.B. Cunningham, Jim Horn, Jimmy C. Newman, Johnny Reid, Dennis Linde, Whisperin’ Bill Anderson, The Whites, Jesse Winchester, Josh Kelly, Vern Gosdin, Duane Eddy, Bobby Osborn and the Rocky Top Express, Lee Brice, Percy Sledge, Albert Lee, Billy Yates, David Ball, Gene Watson, Colt Ford, Jan Howard, Jimmy Hall, George Hamilton IV, Rob Schneider, Shelly West, Jesse Keith Whitley jr., Bucky Covington, Curtis and Lucky, Linda Davis, Brothers of the Southland, J.D. Myers, Holly Williams, Senator Lemar Alexander, Barbara Mandrell, Leroy VanDyke, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Striking Matches, Deana Carter, Eli “paperboy” Reed, Serebee (Voice) and American Idolist Bo Bice, Scotty McCreery, Casey James and Lauren Alaina.

Beckett has also worked with numberous Nashville songwriters, including Jason Matthews, Gary Nicols, Gary Nicolson, Wynn Varble, Roxy Dean, Craig Wiseman, Luke Laird, Dean Dillion, Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson, Marv Green, Phillip White, Leslie Satcher, Tom Shiparo, Brett Jones, Brett James, Jessi Alexander, John Mabe, Tim Nichols, Ashley Monroe, Jarrod Niemann, Shawn Camp, Jeffrey Steel, Monty Holmes, and Brice Long.

Mark has done extensive touring and performances with Olivia Newton John, including performances at Royal Albert Hall (2013) and Sydney Opera House (2012), as well as her Christmas Tour (2011), Australia/SE Asia Tour (2012), US tour (2012), and UK tour (2013).

Additional highlighted shows, televised appearances and tours include: Country Family Reunion TV Shows (2011-2012), WSM CMA Music Fest (2010-2013), Inspirational Country Music Awards (2005, 2011, 2013), house band for the Musician’s Hall of Fame Induction shows (2007, 2008, 2009), performances with Grammy winner Steve Wariner (2011-2013), house band for the ACM Honors (2011), house band for Steve Cropper - TJ Martell at the Ryman Auditorium (2006-2007), Merl Fest with Earl Scruggs (2004), Opry Live (GAC) from 2009 to the present, and continues to be the staff drummer for the Grand Ole Opry (May ’09 to present).

Top Accolades include:

• Kenny Chesney - Greatest Hits 2 (Gold record) and hit #1 single "Out Last Night"
• Kenny Chesney - Hemingway’s Whiskey (Platinum record) and #1 single, “Reality”
• Jo Dee Messina - Delicious Surprise  (Gold record)
• Flika (motion picture starring Tim Mcgraw)
• ESPN “Rise Up” theme by Kenny Chesney

Mark endorses Mapex Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Innovative Percussion Drumsticks, Aquarian Drumheads, Gator Cases, and Stavetone™ Drum Hoops.