mark jenkins - electric guitars (lead guitar)

Growing up in a Pentecostal church, Marc learned to play guitar in his first year of school (1st Grade), when he wanted to rock out with his favorite band at the time, KISS. He quickly began jamming to "Oh Susanna" to "Catch Scratch Fever", but soon he lost his passion for a brief year or so . . . so he jumped off the guitar for practicing the martial arts, since he "wanted to be a white version of Bruce Lee," as Marc puts it. Martial arts did only one thing, it led Marc searching for the truth, which got him involved into Eastern Mysticism and Confucianism. He later became bored with his life and picked up a dusty old Bible and opened it up (which it literally fell open) to a book of called Proverbs. He was almost instantly hooked. I was astonished, as he says "I became a believer for the first time" at the age of 14. His life began to change and took many a twist and turn.

Following high school, Marc heard Joe Satriani's, Crush of Love and was influenced enough to get back onto his guitar again. His strong love for music began to grow, which allowed him to play in many OC bands like Johnny Walker and the Lost Dogs, Godhead Bodily, and United in Christ. Gospel music became one of Mark's favorite styles of music. Marc considers himself as having a much tighter musical affinity with his black brethren than with his pasty European ancestors. That's were he gets the R&B, Funk and Soul driven riffs on his guitar, which seem to just glide off so naturally from his finger tips.

Later, Marc was given an opportunity to play bass at his local church. He continues to play bass for his church as a way to give back to his community. Also, Marc has continued to expand his like for other kinds of instruments like playing the accordion from time to time, if and when the right opportunity would present itself, which he serious about. He just plain loves to rock. Marc finds that music is a spiritual thing for him and sees that God communicates to him through music, as well as being able to communicate spiritual truths through music to others; it becomes a give and take opportunity.

QUICK STATS

Favorite Bands: Alice in Chains, Queen, Toby Mac, Creed, Rage Against the Machine, Amos Lee, Sarah McLachlan, Parliament, Jimi, Cypress Hill, Delirious, Evanescence, Linkin Park, Sublime, Lenny Kravitz, Gypsy Kings, Joan Osborne, and James Brown.

Favorite Movies: Braveheart, Man on Fire.

Favorite sports Teams: I like to play not watch . . . but if I must gimme some violence and mayhem . . . XGames . . . sounds good, Ultimate Fighting, Jackass, and Hockey.

Childhood heroes: Super-friends, Bruce Lee.

Favorite Cartoons: Anything his 3 year old Jeremiah and Macy likes. Buzz Light-year, The Incredibles.

Favorite Hobbies: The Bible, Politics, Conspiracy Theories.

Best Decision: Picking up the Bible, marrying his wife Stacey, having his two kids.

Best Quote: 1Corithians 13:12 - For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abides faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Music Influences: Mostly Rock, anything with a Phat Groove, Disco, Black Gospel Music, Funk, and Rap.

Equipment Used

Guitars: Fender Telecaster, Gretsch.

Amplifier Cabs: Fender Twin.

Pedals: Digitech GNX4.

Email Mark at boh@bridge2u.org