David Marks

David Marks began playing music with his neighbors, the Wilson brothers, in 1958 when he was 10 years old, eventually developing their own unique hybrid of surf instrumentals and Chuck Berry influenced Rock & Roll. When Brian Wilson began using that electric Rock and Roll foundation to support his intricate vocal harmonies, an exciting new sound was created.

In spring 1962 Capitol Records acquired a demo recording of the songs Surfin’ Safari and 409 performed by Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love and neighbor David Marks which upon release became a massive national hit. It was at this time that these five names, known as The Beach Boys, became Capitol Records recording stars with a future as bright as the California sun.

Over the course of the next two years, The Beach Boys would evolve into America’s top rock act as well as experiencing a steadily growing international fame. In only 18 months they recorded an astonishing four classic studio albums that included some of rock music’s most beloved anthems such as Surfin’ Safari, Surfin’ USA, Catch a Wave, Surfer Girl, In My Room, 409, Shut Down, Little Deuce Coupe and Be True to You School while also touring the entire United States from Hawaii to New York. And it was during these first years that the enduring image of five smiling Pendleton clad guys, carrying a surfboard on a California beach, was forever ingrained as the iconic image of American music – defining the band in the public’s eye for decades to come.

David Marks was part of all of that, and then in late 1963 at 15 years of age he walked away from the Beach Boys at the very height of their initial wave of success. While his time in the band may have been short, he participated in the most crucial period of the Beach Boys career. He was there as the band rose from a local curiosity to the top of the Billboard charts. He was there when the Beach Boys created their trademark sound, one that still resonates to this day. He played on many of the Beach Boys most popular songs that are still heard daily on radio, and in television and movies. The impact his Fender Stratocaster guitar had on the style of The Beach Boys and generations of future guitarists is undeniable.

David went on to record solo material for A&M, Warner Brothers, Imperial and Dot Records all before he was 21 years old. Two of his post Beach Boys bands, David Marks and the Marksmen, and The Moon, enjoy significant cult followings today and are especially popular among the 1960’s era collectors and music aficionados. David later studied jazz and classical composition and guitar at some of the finest music schools in Boston and had a successful career as a respected Los Angeles based studio musician, while never trading on his notoriety as an ex-Beach Boy.

In addition to his fundamental role in some of the Beach Boys biggest hits, David Marks has studied, played and recorded with some of the greatest musical talents of this generation in all genres of music from surf, to jazz, blues, rock & roll, even classical and stands among the best of them. In spite of this impressive resume, David’s desire to remain out of the spot light as an anonymous, working guitarist relegated him into obscurity for the better part of 35 years.

With the recent release of The Lost Beach Boy (Virgin Books) David Marks, for the first time ever, tells the complete story of The Beach Boys genesis, from his childhood living across the street from the Wilsons, through their initial rise to fame. And now it seems, The Lost Beach Boy is anything but lost.

David Marks finally accepted his place as an original member of The Beach Boys in 1997 when he rejoined the band for a two-year tour. After a diagnosis of Hepatitis C in 1999 forced him to quit the Beach Boys for a second time, David committed himself to getting healthy and beat the virus in 2004 after participating in a year long clinical trial.  During that time, David lent his name to the cause, becoming the official spokesman of several awareness campaigns throughout the US and UK where he was able to reach audiences of tens of millions with his message.  David has also met with members of the House and Senate on behalf of the cause.

In 2005, at the request of the Wilson family, David Marks was included on the State of California historical landmark placed in the old neighborhood where their houses once stood. David was joined by fellow Beach Boys Brian Wilson and Al Jardine for the dedication ceremony and performed with Dennis Wilson’s grandson, Matt, and “Uncle” Billy Hinsche.  This statue which features the same iconic image shot on the beach in 1962 of the Pendelton clad boys, literally and forever cemented David’s place in the history of the Beach Boys.

The following year, all 5 surviving Beach Boys reunited at the Capitol Records tower to receive RIAA awards marking 2 million sales of the Sounds of Summer compilation CD and to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Pet Sounds.

David is currently residing in New York, where he continues to write and record new music. He is currently collaborating on a CD with poet and Beach Boys/Brian Wilson lyricist, Stephen Kalinich, scheduled for a fall ’07 release. When not in the studio, David performs with Beach Boy Al Jardine and Dean Torrence and the Surf City All Stars as well as with his own band.