This biography for Mark Benson was sent in by Gary Grimes on December 23, 2004. It is the same information which will be used in the program for the band's January 21, 2005 performance at Carnegie Hall. Thanks to Sue Park for the photos contained within the article.

Mark was introduced to music at the age of 8, playing drums and piano. It was at the age of 17 that he started playing the guitar. Interested in becoming a luthier, Mark began his internship at Lay's Guitar Repair in Akron, Ohio. There he learned to build, repair, and restore guitars as well as other stringed instruments. Mark went on to make guitars for Eddie Van Halen and Jackson Browne, and continues to rebuild, repair, and restore all of the instruments used by "1964".

Mark has sold vintage instruments to The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bad Company, Hall and Oates, Ted Nugent, ZZ Top, The Eagles, The Allman Brothers, The Cars, David Lindley, Cheap Trick, and The Doobie Brothers. Mark has also played guitar in the following local Ohio bands: Ashes, Raintree, Coconut, Mr. French, and Bock (with Gary).

In 1984, Mark with Gary and Greg started "1964"...The Tribute. He was executive producer of "All You Need Is Live", the band's double compact disc, and produced a studio CD with Dave Stephenson and Mike Purkhiser. He also worked on various studio projects including "Starhand Visions" and "The Cleveland Project" with Gary Grimes.

Since the beginning of "1964", Mark says, "We've tried to generate the same feeling of happiness that is generated by the music of the Beatles. We get so much of this positive energy back from our audiences, it reassures us that for now, we are where we are supposed to be."