A veteran of the Richmond music scene, Mark started playing at a young age after being insulted by a young lady that it seemed (at the time) important to impress. Much toil, tears and years later it is good to see that he still feels there is something he can bring to the musical table in our community.

"You know I was always a fan first. I loved going around and hanging with my friends in their bands and going to their shows. One day this guy throws a guitar in my hands and said, 'here - play this part,' and I was hooked. Took him two days to pry that guitar out of my hands." After taking several years off it's good to see a guitar back in his hands.

The music Mark has played in various acts has spanned the gamut from standards at dinner time to down right 'dirty' blues to Top 40. "For me it started with and always comes back to the blues. What we do now isn't blues but that's where my heart is. Plus - it's the only three chords I know."

Mark's musical influences include Eric Clapton, Foghat, ZZ Top, Allman Brothers Band and "anyone else that knows how to kick up the back beat and turn it up to 11."

When asked about his connection to Eric Clapton and his love of the blues, Mark had this to say: "You know, I get that a lot. Look! I know that Eric didn't invent the blues, but it was through him that 'blues' became accessible. If it hadn't been for dat man right dere, I woulda never gone back and heard the greats like Muddy, Howlin Wolf or Robert Johnson. Man! I could never play like those guys. They were fierce. But hearin' them spoke to me and helped me get to the place that I could express something on this six-stringed beast."

When asked about his latest foray with MT & the D's the 'guitarus thesaurus' said, "It's a blessing. It really is! I can't imagine that there are three other guys that I could have more fun with. Gettin' to go onstage and make music with my three best friends is a pleasure and a privilege. We believe in this! It's our hope that some of the joy we get from playin' these songs will extend to you in the audience. Come on out! Hear it for yourself! Let's have a party!"

My first gig, if you really want to call it a gig, was at a wedding reception back home in Philadelphia. The band was three pieces, guitar, bass, and drums. As the night went on, the drummer kept the beers coming until he was no longer able to perform. I can't remember if I volunteered or if someone suggested I play. Nevertheless, next thing I know, I'm behind the kit and I finished out the night. I did pretty well and actually received a standing ovation. I was about 15 years old. Well, after that, I was hooked.

My first band was called "The Chaparrals". As a rule, first bands don't last very long, and this was no exception. With that project done, I then concentrated on marching with the JR Tucker High School Marching Band, playing snare drum. I loved marching and I march still today with the JR Tucker Marching Alumni Band.

After graduating from High School, I joined the Navy Reserves and was assigned to the USS O'Hare, DD-889. Before departing for a good will tour of the Middle East in 1968, our captain wanted a band and asked for volunteers. I couldn't get my hand in the air fast enough. And with that, "The O'Haremen" band was created. That was a great gig and a highlight of my career.

Since leaving the service, I have been in a number of bands in the Richmond area and actually was a DJ for a couple of years. If I had to describe myself musically, I would have to say I'm a "Blue Eyed Soul Brother". I grew up with James Brown, Wilson Pickett, The Tops and Temps, Hall and Oates, Earth Wind and Fire, Average White Band, Tower of Power, and the list goes on. Anything with an R&B groove. And this brings us to MT and the Ds.

I'm fortunate to play with three really good musicians who all have different musical backgrounds. And the great thing is, it works! We have brought our rock, blues, and R&B influences together to create a mix of good dance music. There is nothing worse than playing in front of an empty dance floor.

MT and the Ds is a project that I am very proud of. We are a band with focus on a good musical experience, and we hope to keep people dancing for a long time to come. Maybe we'll see you at our next gig!

Frank started playing piano at the age of 5. After four years of lessons, he gave up and took the next half decade off. But never one to give up for good, Frank started playing the guitar during his high school years. Frank played in several starter bands in Orlando Florida, but nothing really took off.

After a three year stint in the military, Frank came to Norfolk, Virginia, and jumped right back into the music scene, this time playing lead guitar for several beach bands in Virginia Beach. "I never really gave up on the keyboards and ended up buying a Hammond C-3 and Leslie and started playing. I can only say that nothing can replace the sound of the Hammond and Leslie in all types of music."

Since then, Frank has met and shared the stage with many top musicians, including blues great Little Dave Thompson; Kevin Mckendrie, keyboard player for Delbert McClinton; The Breeze Band; and Bill Deal and the Rondells, just to name a few.

Playing with MT and the Ds gives me the opportunity to play the wide variety of music that I have always loved and have fun at the same time.

See you on the dance floor!

A drummer by trade, David was asked to pick up a bass guitar for the first time when MT and the Ds was formed. Never one to resist a challenge - especially when it means an opportunity to play music - David took the offer, committed himself to late-night study, and found out quickly that there was more to the root of music than “a kick and a snare” (sorry, Tom!) Who’d have figured! - Consider it “Lesson Learned!”

Music for David has been a life-long passion, watching and listening intently as his Dad played his vintage 40’s Gretch guitar to Porter Waggoner, Jim Reeves, and Hank Williams. David soon followed suit in his own way. By his early teens he started playing his favorite rock tunes on an old Gibson archtop electric he won in a bet and an amplifier gutted from an old reel-to-reel tape recorder (yes, they really did exist) he found in the attic. David discovered quickly that Jimi Hendrix had too much invested in his equipment, recreating “The Master’s” sound about as best as one could without actually spending any money. What a sound! As much as he enjoyed playing, it was a pursuit that had to wait, as life was soon to take the first of many elusive detours.

A long stint in the Army-coupled with family life-took David away from music for quite some time. He soon picked up an interest in drumming, plugged away on his own for years while juggling a military career, worldwide travel, and family. Along the way, he took a break from Aerosmith, Zeppelin, and ZZ Top and took a path down the road of Country music, where he finally got his chance to perform in Germany as a drummer for a country band (this was back when Country really was cool). It was here that David developed an appreciation for other musical styles, including jazz, blues, and R&B. Unfortunately, the realities of life brought on another detour (there seemed to be a pattern forming here), but the urge to play never left. The desire to play country music soon abated, however, and it was back to his roots…Classic Rock was here to stay!

And then came MT and the Ds. The opportunity to play with such an experienced and talented group of professional musicians was just too overpowering to pass up. For MT and the Ds, it’s not about fame or egos, it’s about the music, the soul, the respect for all those that came before us. The rest is history, but with MT and the Ds much more history is yet to be made!