Discography, biography and photos Mark Knopfler

Every year, the music industry is replenished with new talents. Everyone dreams of taking his place under the sun, but not everyone is destined to remain in history. Mark Knopfler was in that list of people who with their talent and music conquered the hearts of many fans and still continue to collect entire stadiums. Quiet and modest, but so native to many, he is always embarrassed when people tell him about how his music changed their life.

Childhood

The biography of Mark Knopfler began on August 12, 1949 in the city of Glasgow (Scotland). His mother is an Englishwoman, and her 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 mother city of the musician's mother when he was seven years old. They spent a lot of time there.

School life

British musician Mark Knopfler, along with his younger brother, went to school. It was there that he became interested in music. His uncle's play on the piano and harmonica was very inspiring to Mark Knopfler. In the 1960s, a large number of anonymous music circles appeared, one of which was joined by a future guitarist, 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. Soon he became a junior reporter, but eventually decided to graduate in English at the University of Lida. Many argue that he really liked language classes. During the day, Mark worked as a reporter, attended the university in the evening, and later began to work as a restorer of paintings and furniture.

Musical career

In 1988, Knopfler wrote articles about the musical life of the university and during the interview he got acquainted with local guitarist Steve Phillips. It turned out that the guys had a lot in common, and they created their own joint group, which was named Duolian String Pickers duo. And so began the musical career of Mark. Steve discovered to Knopfler many of the secrets of playing solo guitar, which he once spied on from Lonnie Johnson, the great blues performer, as well as some finger sound techniques in the style of country blues. This had a great influence on the musician's further work. In Leeds, Mark Knopfler recorded his first track Summer's coming my way for the first time in a self-made studio, where Steve played with him on a twelve-stringed guitar. From the 1960s through the 1970s, the guys were inseparable, they did a great job, but then their paths parted.

After the young musician graduates from the university, he decides to conquer London. Nopfler studied the press about the modern rock scene for days. So he gets to audition at Melody Maker ("Malody Maker") and starts his work in the band Brewer's Droop ("Brewers Droop"). Career in the group was not asked, and Knopfler went to work as a lecturer at Loughton College (Lawton). Sometimes he taught to play the guitar wishing. Soon the younger brother of the musician David decides to move to London. At that time, Knopfler had his own "gang", which was called Cafe Racers ("Cafe Raysers"). The guys decided to take David. Together they played in local pubs. The group goes on a two-month tour, 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 to tour the UK.

History of Dire Straits

After a while, the band formed finally, and in 1977 the guys began to be called Dire Straits ("Daiet Straits"), which means "desperate situation" or "worse now". The talented beginning musicians have their first recordings. Gradually the popularity of the group went beyond the clubs. Records have got to the DJ of the radio station BBC, after which the "gang" was invited to perform their songs on the radio. So they signed their first contract with the Vertigo label. Ed Bicknell wanted to become a new manager. He offered the guys a joint tour with Talking Heads ("Talking Heads").

Vocalist Mark Knopfler, whose photos adorned the walls of many of his fans, brought his guys to fame in a very short time. The composition of the group underwent a change. Someone came, someone left, but nevertheless innovations did not keep themselves waiting. Now the group has keyboards and saxophone. In 1985, after the recording of Brothers In Arms, which translates as "to take up arms," the group gained worldwide popularity. During the tour, the musicians had 234 performances, which united more than twelve million fans of the work of Dire Straits. The album became a real bestseller. However, after the tour the band announced the end of their career. Knopfler concentrated primarily on recording soundtracks for films.

Soon, Mark Knopfler began to draw to the past. At that time, the "gang" was going to perform in Leeds. His old friend Steve was in London, he warned that he would come to the show. In May 1986, Steve Phillips and Brendan Crocker stood on the same stage with Nopfler at the Grove pub. So the life of a new group called Notting Hillbillies ("Notting Hillbilis") began. The musicians began work on the disc, it was a blend of country and blues. Subsequently, the album will become multiplatinum. They again appear on the radio and continue to play in pubs.

Solo career

Career Mark Knopfler flew up, but he wanted something more. In parallel with the game in Dire Straits, he began his solo career. The composition for the film Local Hero ("Local Hero") was the first project on which Mark Knopfler worked. The discography of the talented musician was expanding more and more rapidly. Also Mark started working with famous musicians. Bob Dylan was preparing 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 appeared on the light. Subsequently, Mark Knopfler as a producer collaborated with Van Morrison, Chet Atkins and Randy Newman.

Soon Mark Knopfler received the glory of the composer. He became the author of soundtracks for such films as The Local Hero (1983), The Princess Bride (1987), The Terrorist's Diary (1984), Metroland (1997), The Last Turn at Brooklyn (1989) And "rascality" (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 - left-handed, but still prefers playing the right-handed guitar. As the musician himself says, he uses the mediator only in studios when recording rhythmic parts, he plays his fingers at concerts. His vocals can be compared to a mixture of singing and recitative. The music is constantly changing. From pure guitar sound the melody changes into heavy and overloaded, and then again flows into the light and soft. According to the Rolling Stone magazine, Mark Knopfler is one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. The musician is on the 27th place on this list.

Personal life

The musician was married three times. The first wife was his school friend Cathy White. In the second marriage, Mark Knopfler and Lourdes Salomon had beautiful twins. They were called Benjamin and Joseph. The third marriage with Kitty Aldridge gave the great musician two daughters - Isabella and Katya Ruby Rose.

The fight for human rights

Unfortunately, the Russian fans Mark Knopfler, who were expecting his performances in Moscow and St. Petersburg on June 7 and 8, were forced to change their plans, since the musician did not want to come to Russia because of the recently signed law "On Unwanted Organizations" signed by Vladimir Putin.

According to this law, the activities of any non-state 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 inspections, and many argue that such methods are illegal.

The offices of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Memorial are the oldest 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 express his protest and cancel the concerts in the country until the pressure from the authorities ceases.

Discography

Work in 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 20th 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 performer, one can not help singling 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 outstanding guitarists has not changed.

All the same voice, all the same guitar busts and a few dozen minutes of tranquility and serenity.

According to critics, the last work of Knopfler was the most interesting and outstanding in his solo career. The album is filled with quiet, warm, bewitching and quiet music, it turned out autobiographical. Nopfler's simple musical language tells about his life, hobbies, travel and idols. In melodies, folk plays more and more. In the creation of the album, his friends helped him, with whom he once played in one group. Produced by himself Mark Knopfler. At the moment, the great musician and composer continues to work on music.