Every year the music industry is replenished with new talents. Everyone wants to take their place in the sun, but not everyone is destined to remain in history. Mark Knopfler was on that list of people who, with their talent and music, won the hearts of many fans and still continue to gather whole stadiums. Quiet and modest, but so dear to many, every time he is embarrassed when people tell him about how his music has changed their lives.
Childhood
Biography of Mark Knopfler began on August 12, 1949 in the city of Glasgow (Scotland). His mother is English, and his father is a refugee from Hungary. In 1939, in order to save his life, he had to flee from a pro-fascist country. The family stopped in the hometown of the musician’s mother when he was seven years old. They spent a lot of time there.
School life
British musician Mark Knopfler went to school with his younger brother. It was there that he became interested in music. Playing his uncle on the piano and harmonica inspired Mark Knopfler very much. In the 60s, a large number of anonymous music circles appeared, one of which the future guitarist joined, where he had the opportunity to listen to famous singers and musicians such as Elvis Presley, Scotty Moore and Django Reinhardt.
Knopfler showed great interest in English and journalism. He soon became a junior reporter, but ultimately decided to graduate in English at Leeds University. Many claim that he really liked the language classes. During the day, Mark worked as a reporter, visited the university in the evening, and a little later began working as a restorer of paintings and furniture.
Music career
In 1988, Knopfler wrote articles about the musical life of the university and during an interview he met local guitarist Steve Phillips. It turned out that the guys had a lot in common, and they created their own joint group, which was called Duolian String Pickers duo.
And so began the musical career of Mark. Steve revealed to Nopfleur many of his secrets to playing the solo guitar, which he once spied on Lonnie Johnson, the great blues artist, as well as some techniques of finger sounding in the style of country blues. This had a huge impact on the further work of the musician. In Leeds, Mark Knopfler first recorded his Summer's coming my way track in a makeshift studio where Steve played with him on a
twelve-string guitar. From the 1960s to the 1970s, the guys were inseparable, they did a lot of work, but then their paths nevertheless diverged.
After the young musician graduates from university, he decides to conquer London. Knopfler has been studying the press about the modern rock scene for days. So he gets auditioned in Melody Maker ("Melody Maker") and begins his work in the band Brewer's Droop ("Brewers Drup"). Career in the group did not work out, and Knopfler went to work as a lecturer at Loughton College (Lawton). Sometimes he taught those who wish to play the guitar. Soon, the younger brother of the musician, David decides to move to London. At that time, Knopfler had his own “gang” called Cafe Racers (“Cafe Racers”). The guys decided to take David. Together they played in local pubs. The group goes on a two-month tour, in which for forty-four days gives forty-two concerts. After him, the band rarely appears on the radio. Knopfler is increasingly distracted by his solo career and begins touring the UK.
History of Dire Straits
After some time, the group was finally formed, and in 1977 the guys began to be called Dire Straits ("Day Streets"), which means "desperate situation" or "there is nowhere worse." Talented novice musicians have their first recordings. Gradually, the group's popularity went beyond the clubs. Records went to the BBC radio DJ, after which the "gang" was invited to perform their compositions on the radio.
So they signed their first contract with the Vertigo label. Ed Bicknell wanted to become the new manager. He offered the guys a joint tour with Talking Heads ("Talking Heads").
Vocalist Mark Knopfler, whose photographs adorned the walls of many of his fans, brought his guys to fame in a very short time. The composition of the group has undergone changes. Someone came, someone left, but nevertheless innovations did not keep themselves waiting. Now the keyboard and saxophone appeared in the group. In 1985, after the recording of Brothers In Arms, which translates as "take on arms," the group gained worldwide popularity. During the tour, the musicians had 234 performances that brought together more than twelve million fans of Dire Straits. The album has become a real bestseller. However, after the tour, the group announced the end of their career. Knopfler focused primarily on recording soundtracks for films.
Soon, Mark Knopfler began to draw to the past. At that moment, the “gang” was about to perform in Leeds. His old friend Steve was in London, he warned that he would come to the performance. In May 1986, Steve Phillips and Brendan Crocker were on the same stage with Knopfler at Grove Pub. And so began the life of a new group called Notting Hillbillies ("Notting Hillbills"). The musicians began work on the disc, it was a mixture of country and blues. Subsequently, the album will become multi-platinum. They again appear on the radio and continue to play in pubs.
Solo career
Mark Knopfler's career was rapidly flying up, but he wanted something more. In parallel with playing Dire Straits, he began his solo career. The composition for the film Local Hero ("Local Hero") was the first project that Mark Knopfler worked on.
The discography of a talented musician expanded more rapidly. Mark also began working with famous musicians. Bob Dylan was getting ready for the release of his album called Infidels, and Knopfler became the producer of his work.
Thanks to the fruitful work with Tina Turner, such a composition as Private Dancer ("Personal Dancer") was born. Subsequently, Mark Knopfler as a producer collaborated with Van Morrison, Chet Atkins and Randy Newman.
Soon, Mark Knopfler gained fame as a composer. He authored soundtracks for films such as Local Hero (1983), Princess Bride (1987), Terrorist's Diary (1984), Metroland (1997), Last Turn to Brooklyn (1989) and Cheating (1997).
Beautiful guitar overflows and interesting vocals became the main components of Mark Knopfler's career. Photos of the musician clearly show that he practically does not part with the guitar, being with her everywhere.
His style is different from the styles of other musicians. Mark Knopfler is left-handed, but nonetheless prefers playing the right-handed guitar. As the musician himself says, he uses the pick only in the studios when recording rhythmic parts, while playing concerts with his fingers. His vocals can be compared to a mixture of singing and recitative. Music is constantly changing. From a pure guitar sound, a melody passes into a heavy and overloaded one, and then again flows into a light and soft one. According to Rolling Stone magazine, Mark Knopfler is one of the hundred greatest guitarists of all time. The musician is in 27th place on this list.
Personal life
The musician was married three times. The first wife was his school friend Katie White. In the second marriage, Marc Nopfleur and Lourdes Salomon had beautiful twins. They were called Benjamin and Joseph. The third marriage to Kitty Aldridge gave the great musician two daughters - Isabella and Katya Ruby Rose.
Fight for human rights
Unfortunately, Mark Knopfler’s Russian fans, who expected his performances in Moscow and St. Petersburg on June 7 and 8, were forced to change their plans, as the musician did not want to come to Russia because of the law “On Unwanted Organizations”, recently signed by Vladimir Putin.
According to this law, the activities of any non-governmental organization suspected of threatening the country's security will be terminated. As a result, more than 100 non-governmental organizations have undergone a large number of checks, with many claiming that such methods are illegal.
The offices of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Memorial are the oldest of those currently located in the Russian Federation. In their reports, they write about the restriction of civil liberties in Russia. The musician believes that such actions are unacceptable, as a result of which he was forced to protest and cancel concerts in the country until the pressure from the authorities ceased.
Discography
Jobs at Dire Straits:
- 1978 - Dire Straits.
- 1979 - Communiqué.
- 1980 - Making Movies.
- 1982 - Love Over Gold.
- 1983 - ExtendedancEPlay.
- 1984 - Alchemy Live.
- 1985 - Brothers in Arms.
- 1988 - Money For Nothing.
- 1991 - On Every Street.
- 1993 - On the Night.
- 1995 - Live At The BBC.
- 1998 - Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits.
- 2005 - Brothers In Arms 20 th Anniversary Edition.
- 2005 - The Best of Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler: Private Investigations.
Solo career:
- 1996 - Golden.
- 1996 - A Night In London.
- 2000 - Sailing to Philadelphia.
- 2002 - The Ragpicker's Dream.
- 2004 - Shangri-La.
- 2005 - One Take Radio Sessions.
- 2007 - Kill To Get Crimson.
- 2009 - Get Lucky.
- 2012 - Privateering.
- 2015 - Tracker.
New album
In the career of an outstanding artist, one cannot but single out his new work as a separate chapter. In 2015, musician Mark Knopfler released his new masterpiece called Tracker. First of all, fans were pleased that the style of one of the most prominent guitarists has not changed much.
All the same voice, all the same guitar searches and several tens of minutes of calm and serenity.
According to critics, Knopfler’s latest work has become the most interesting and outstanding in his solo career. The album is filled with quiet, warm, bewitching and calm music, it turned out to be autobiographical. Knopfler tells her life, hobbies, travels and idols in a simple musical language. The tunes are more and more auditioned for folk. His friends, with whom he once played in the same group, helped him create the album. The producer himself was Mark Knopfler. At the moment, the great musician and composer continues to work on music.