UK Dave wrote:

---

Hi Eric

It's always nice to hear from people who knew Mark, not forgetting John and Eddie of course. When I think of Mark the first thing that comes to me is his playing on What'd I Say on One World. Classy! We'll never know what he might have achieved had circumstances turned out differently. There is a younger Mark Olson who occupies space on the CD racks in our stores nowadays. I doubt he's any relation (is he?) but when I see that rack I always wonder what might have been.

Like John and Eddie, gone but not forgotten!!!!!

---

 Indeed...Messrs Olson, Guzman and Persh...gone but not forgotten. In many ways , the band hit a peak with "In Concert". It has my favorite lineup. The band were a well oiled machine and the crowd sounds like they are having fun.

And the song Ray, Mark and Eddie co-wrote (Under God's Light) has a nice positive message as well. I'm digging that song more and more.

Don't know why I was thinking about Mark Olson and Rare Earth today, but I searched the web and found this thread.  About 45 years ago I played in a band with Mark - the Emerson Junior High Band in Livonia, Mi.  Our band leader/teacher was Miss Bach, man, was she intense.  She had raven black hair and a widow's peak, steely dark eyes and an athletic body that gyrated and jerked violently as she led the band through all the Sousa marches.  When you missed a note or came in early or late she would laser a look of hate that burned right through you.

Mark was a bass saxophone player and the thing I remember about his playing was he never flubbed a note when we had chair challenges.  He was a year younger then I so we didn't hang together, but the other thing about him was that he was super quiet.
One Saturday our school band was to compete in a state competition in Ypsilanti, next to Ann Arbor.  I really didn't want to go and I had a plan to get out of it.  I had learned a telephone trick where you could dial your own number with the number 9 in front of it and the phone would ring after you made the call and hung up.  Apparently the phone company did this test a line after installation and some kid found out about it and told everybody how to do it.  I made the call in my parent's bedroom and then walked to the kitchen to "answer" the ringing phone.  I faked a call from another sax player and band member, Ronnie Farmer, in which I "discovered" from Ronnie that the band competition was postponed until a later date.  My mother was sitting there with her coffee, as always, and heard me getting the news.  Man, it worked perfect and I went out to play in the woods.

About an hour later I heard my mom calling for me and I met her half way on my way back to the house.  Mrs. Farmer had called to say she would drive us to the bus at school for the trip to Ypsi.  I was caught like a rat.  After a really quiet ride to the school we boarded the bus that was waiting for us - and running behind schedule.  I looked at the floor so as not to make eye contact with anybody and found a seat - next to Mark Olson.  It seemed like the seat was slightly jiggling and I looked over at Mark and he was laughing so hard he had his head down to shield his tears.  While they were waiting the band had heard the story from Miss Bach and as far as I could tell Mark Olson was the only one who found the whole thing funny. 

Years later, '68 or '69, my dad and I were at Salem Lumber Co. on a Sunday and ran into Mark's dad.  He said that Mark was in a band - Rare Earth - they were already famous in Detroit - and the way Mr. Olson said it, so deadpan and matter of fact, I thought he was making it up.  What did I know?  

Even though I just found out today about his passing, it's very sad to hear. 

Richard wrote:

---

Here are the actual dates: born March 23 1950 - April 14 1991.

---

Thank you Richard. That's way too young.

A month or two ago someone here posted about a band Mark had in Florida after he was dismissed from Rare Earth. And the same person mentioned there was material that was recorded. I'd sure like to hear that material someday.  I always have enjoyed Mark's playing and singing. I really do feel that he blended well with Pete's lead vocals on songs like Think Of The Children and Love Shines Down.

I knew Mark before he was in Rare Earth, and for a while after he joined the group.  Mark was beautiful inside and out.  I believe he was a genius, musically, but I understand his addictions affected much of his performance.  I liked him as a person much better before he joined the group.  And nothing at all against Rare Earth--they were/are fantastic ... I just think it all went to his head.  His mom and dad, Vivian and Dan, were of Swedish background--very kind, sweet and humble people, especially his mom.  Mark's beginnings were simple--growing up an only child in a small house in Livonia, Michigan with his parents--also had 2 dogs, Peppy and Kelly, whom he adored.  His Dad worked at Salem Lumber and his mom at Montgomery Wards at Wonderland in Livonia.  Mark was such a good son and always picking up his mom from work.  Anyhow, if there is an after-life, I hope some day I can see his beautiful face again and see him smile.  He really was a good guy ... a good heart and a good soul.  He was funny and very sweet--innocent, almost, before he joined the group.  Again, I'm not blaming the group--I heard they tried to help him a lot with the addictions.  Mark just couldn't handle it all.  He used to get angry with me for trying to get him to stop the drugs and I would get ugly pestering him.  If I could do it all over I would be a lot kinder and try to get him help--but I don't think he would have listened at the time.  Oh, well ...  He sure could play and write music.  I would listen to him sing and play piano for hours and hours.  I'm so very, very sorry how he ended up.  I understand he moved around and went from relationship to relationship.  Wish I could have seen and talked to him before he died ... tell him I'm sorry and how much he meant.  I hope he is at peace and happy now.  God bless you, Mark ...  Love ya ...

I beleive he lived in a small lakeside town in Texas called Jonestown. But that was back in 80's

A few years back a few of Mark's possessions were auctioned on Ebay such as gold discs and personal photo's.

I knew him in the late 70 and 80's.   I was a teenager then and we would visit about once or twice a year.  

I have a few really cool memories of him...

He was super cool and he would always talk to me about music.  He had a really cool house built on a side of a canyon outside of LA that had a stable with horses on top.  Had a motorcycle and had a wreck where he lost a toe.   I remember him calling me to tell me he was going to be on American Bandstand.   I had my dad set up the super 8 camera and film the TV while Rare Earth played.....this was way before VCRs.  I still have the 8mm film.

Most of the time he had his signature chops sideburns with long hair.

He did move to Jonetown Texas which overlooks Lake Travis.  Marriage fell apart and I believe that is when he moved to Florida.

Lost track of him in his later years.  I was really sad to hear of his passing.

He deserved better.

Mike,

If i were a betting man I would say that is Mark.

Stuart

I was playing drums with Mark and doing some recording with him in a group called The Mark Olson Project when he passed on. About a year and a half before he passed on he went in to the hospital and was told if he stopped drinking he could live a normal life, but the pressure was to much for him and his demons won. He was a truly amazing musican and freind and I miss him greatly.

I briefly knew Mark, growing up in Redford Twp, which bordered Livonia.  I played bass and was still in High School, graduated in 1971.  Mark had a friend, who was a drummer really into Gene Krupa style of drumming, I think his name was Ray, but not sure.  Anyway Mark and Ray had rented a building on (6 Mile Rd?) and they were going to open a recording studio.  They would show me their multi-track recording gear and other equipment and to be honest, I wasn't sure the story was true.   A couple of weeks later, I hear that Rare Earth (Motown) had rented their recording studio space.  It was a few weeks later and Ray was trying to get out of the building lease for the studio.  He told me that Mark had signed with Motown and was joining Rare Earth.  Obviously Mark was not coming over to Ray's basement to play and record in the future.  Huge talent and a nice guy.

I was thinking about Mark today and happened to come across this site. I had the pleasure of playing bass with Mark in The Mark Olson Project. What a talented musician he was as well as a very nice person. I was saddened to hear of his death. I am very honored to have met Mark and to have had a chance to play with him. God bless....

Mark lived 3 houses away from me in Livonia, Mi. starting about 1962.

Mark was fluid with piano and loved his farfesa.

He was becoming fluid with saxophone. He took many times with me to practice

Stones' songs.  I played rythym guitar but lacked the ear hand coordination.

I'm same age as Mark was. I remember he had gotten into the Orchestra for the local Detroit

production of "Hair" the travelling musical production. We had gone to different high schools.

Later we saw each other when seeing parents. I met his first wife.

I am after these many years of forgetting him, I am sad and pray for him now.

I agree he was driven with a desire a natural talent. I remember him humming to a song.

 and occasional finger snap. the young drummer Krupa style, was Billy Cairo. He lived 2 streets over.

we also had a friend whose father had a T.V. electronics shop, who had a wollensak reel to reel.

Our ages then were 12  and we saw each other till 14 or so almost everyday.

What a positive guy!

Bob

Thanks Dave, what's status of Marks solo works? any contact with his wife?

she had said she was seeing to it's production. I have had no interest in Musicology.

I'd have an interest in collaborating on Mark's Biography.

Many musicians have succumb to the intensities of creating and performing without regard to one's mortality.

Maybe Mark's life is more than his own to discover.

Hey Mike,

I'll hunt around and se what I can find.

I was a few months back, to my home, first time in 25 yrs.

A few of the neighbors are still there.

My brother lived in Orlando, I've been there.

I'll see what I can make of these loose ends.

This is to Melanie...the babysitter. Mark did live in Floweville MI during 1985. You have part of the story you shared correct. He lived with his girlfriend ..Deborah and her daughter Erin. It is Brittany that has a Godmother that is married to Frank Beard from ZZ Top.

I am just seeing this response !!   thank you !  I was trying to remember Marks girlfriends name and her daughters too.  They did show me a photo album back then with Frank Beard and a small child.  I thought they said he was the godfather to Erin.   Do you remember who Erin's real father was?   I was told by her mother he was in a band and drowned falling over board. But can't remember his name either.   thanks again !!!!!

Thank you for helping me out with those questions.   It was a wonderful experience babysitting for them.  Its just a shame we lost him to soon.  

Frank Beard was Brittney's godfather

I found this site because I am an older man now. I have traveled enough and been poor enough,  to have been parted with most of my photos. I just got some from a friend from 1973 which started me thinking of Topanga Canyon, where I was a neighbor of Mark Olson.  I thought I would grab a photo of him and put him in my digital album. In 1997 I had returned from Italy and landed in Hollywood.   I was walking past the Musicians Union and thought I would stop in and ask if they had some information on him, so I could contact him. Oddly they said he was not on the membership pages which I thought was rather strange. In 2001 I landed back in Rome, Italy.  In 2006, I had a desk job, a computer and the internet. I decided to do a search. This is how I found out Mark had passed away in 1991. I was a bit of a mess, because there was no one I could talk to about this. I got a hold of Peter via email, who I had met in passing in the 70's, and he did not have many details, but confirmed that Mark had indeed  passed away. 

Mark actually taught me to ride horses. I was working sporadically in the movie business in 1973.  I spent a lot of time hiking the hills of rural hippish Topanga Canyon on the many days off. Mark had a wonderful and modern wooden house on the edge of a hill with 2 Appaloosa horses corralled near by,  named Sue and Bocabi.  I had done a little work around horses, and could see the paddock needed some work.  I went to the door and introduced myself and luckily Mark was home. I had no idea who he was.  I told him I was a neighbor and asked if he could use some help with the horses in exchange for me riding them sometime.  Mark really didn't hesitate. I actually went riding with Mark. I suppose the horses were for him and his then wife Pam,  who really didn't ride that much.  I would question myself, why I was letting some guy from the suburbs of Michigan teach me to ride horses, because he was a bit of mad man.  Mark was actually testing me. He put me through the hard paces to see if the horse would throw me, and how well I could hold on. I had the wind knocked out of me twice jumping over the same creak.   After that, I never  let that happen again. Mark saw I did not get knocked of the horse like many of his other friends did. This gave him confidence I could be trusted with his horses. When he went out on tour, I had them mostly to myself,  or let our other famous neighbors ride along with me. Sue and Bocabi were the horses of the stars for a while.   Those were some wonderful times.  I met Mark's mom and dad, when they came to visit. 

Mark and  Snuffy Walden played a set at the local VFW Hall for my 33rd birthday. It turned into a star studded pot luck, raging party,  that became a little legend of a good time for may years to come.  Mark was very good to me. We had some real cowboy adventures in those hills, that could have turned into disaster, but Mark found out that he was as tough as he wanted to be.  The horses were just two other pals. We all took care of each other.  There are some things people need to learn about themselves when they are young.  I of course was around when Mark  made music. He included me in anytime he could. I was in awe of his talent.  He became the kind of friend you have when you grow up together, even though we didn't.  I went to visit him in the hospital when he had his toe ripped off in that Harley accident. He was in traction and I sat on the edge of the bed.  It could have been a disaster, but Mark kept his cool and informed me how everything was connected. I will always miss him.   

Mark was writing this song the last time I was regularly in his company in the late 70's.  A snippet of the lyrics would come to me at odd times and I would sing them out loud.  Someone had a link to Mark's music in this forum. As I am writing this those lyrics surfaced with a complete song around them!   What a little miracle!  I am so happy to be connected with the entire song.  "Standin' alone by the telephone,  2 years of waiting for my baby to come home. And now I'm wondering if I'll ever see the day, I don't think of you...... "  God rest your soul old friend. It is so nice to see you are remembered well. DDS

Dave,

I checked back today just to see how active this thread was and to my surprise you had seen my post. I am assuming that this page is your idea. I am sorry I did not find it back in 2006,when I got the news my friend Mark had passed away.  

I have been really happy that George Speranzo& Liberty Kelly posted the music, from  from the Mark Olson Project/Nothing To Fear.  It is good to hear Mark play and sing again, like I was used to, him doing is own music outside of Rare Earth. I am hooked on the one song I mentioned in my post, which I am calling "Aint Nothing Left to Show."  I alway thought it was hit material.  I was there in Mark's living room when the song was being born.  I never heard it completed, but as I said, the refrain never left me.  I was able to isolate the track and have been playing it a lot.  I would like to know who the guy singing with Mark is. I am assuming he is playing lead guitar also.  I am assuming also this was done while Mark was in Florida.  I would love to hear a topnotch producer rework this,  working from the original session tapes.  DDS

Happy Birthday, Mark!  How you loved Sander's yellow layer cake with the caramel icing.   

The picture of Mark near the water is the way I remembered this very talented and kind man in the  early 80's in Jonestown,Texas. R.I.P. Mark

I believe the songs you are referring to were songs written for children's cd's. I remember he mentioned not long before his death he enjoyed writing them and making children happy through music.

I just discovered this sight and have been fascinated reading the good, bad and the ugly regarding Mark.  We all have demons in our life.  Some of us just manage to keep them in the closets longer.

I went to Franklin High School in Livonia, MI. with Mark.  We were both class of 68.  Mark and I shared a gym locker.  He was a musician and I was an artist.  We hated that class, thought it was a complete waste of time and worked very hard every week to get out of it, by faking an injury or a phony note from our parents.  My folks belonged to the Elks Club that year.  They held a Spring Dance and hired a band.  My dad took photos of the events.  A week later, he picked them up at the drug store.  I was flipping thru them and there is an 18 year old Mark Olson in a tuxedo, playing the sax.!!!!   I said " I know this guy" I go to school with him.  I remember my mom saying he was so talented and well mannered and all the old ladies being thrilled when he sung "I Left my Heart in San Francisco".  I told him that and he seemed very embarrassed. Somewhere in my house, that photo still exists.  I will post it if I can find it.

larry, how you doing?

I was Mark's cousin. He was a year younger. We were close during childhood. They would visit every summer. I got to hear Rare Earth in Portland. Mark arranged for us to be at the show & spend some time with him, also again when they played in Fargo. So much more I could share. We loved him like a brother. Reading these posts have been difficult. I'll never forget him. 

Im Deborah. Youll find my response in here somewhere. This thread is so old you may never see this. Miss you!

I had the good fortune to do a basement jam with Mark, one time. Our mutual friend and FHS classmate George Dallas arranged the jam, although I dont believe Mark was doing basement jams at the time. The jam was likely a favor from Mark for George, as it was in the wind for a long time before it happened. I think this took place in 1969, maybe 68, at Georges house. I was the youngest there, class of 70. I was a Whittier kid, not Emerson JHS, so I didnt Mark at all, only by his reputation as a terrific musician. 
 I dont remember the songs we played, but I do remember Mark brought two saxophones and he was able to play them both at the same time. Incredible! There was also a Farfisa there (Marks?) that I hoped to get on, but I dutifully stayed on rhythm at Marks suggestion. His skills were many levels higher than the rest of us, but the music was good, and it must have been good as Im remembering this from 55 years past.