March 2024 posted by on March 12, 2024
Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers



Happy St Patty's  Day !



Here's a thought....

Isn't it amazing that in this country

we celebrate St Patty's Day AND

Spring Break in the same month ??

That's some serious partying going on folks

Only in America ! 

 

In March I always celebrate the birth of 

Wes Montgomery, one of the greatest Jazz Guitarist

to walk this planet. I recently wrote and recorded

another tune to honor Wes,..."Naptown"

He was born in Indianapolis Indiana

and laid to rest there also.

This track features some incrediable Organ

playing by my good buddy Jon Hartmann.

You can check it out on my newest CD

Brand New Day.



And speaking of the new CD,...

Jazz Guitar Today wrote a beautiful review of  it

last month and Smoothjazz.com is doing an excellent

job of promoting it to over 200 stations around

the globe with over 1.76 Million streams 

in less then a month ....Grateful !!!



Well, there's strings to change, lessons to write,

another gig to play, some recording to work on,

and tires to rotate !



Until nest time...

Stay Blessed........Mark
February 2024 posted by on February 5, 2024

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

Happy Valentines Day !

One of my favorite holidays… and yep

like many musicians I got the Romantic Heart.

As a matter of fact my first single off the new CD

Brand New Day is called First Love.

The title came from a friend

who heard me working on it and said “Mark,

that sounds like a young couple, with no money,

living in her mom’s house and he’s driving a

beat up old Chevy !!

It’s soooo romantic it sounds like …First Love “

That’s a pretty good scenario and

who hasn’t had a First Love ??

First Love features some Great Saxophone work

from the legendary Greg Vail !

I’m going to implement a new policy this month.

Instead of listing all of my private gigs I will just

wait until I start booking some more public gigs.

I’ve been really blessed since 2022 and have been

performing 10-15 times a month and teaching

a dozen private guitar lessons a week.

176 gigs for 2023…..I’m a grateful man !!

Feel free to email or call

Mcpgtrtrax@aol.com or 626-485-9266

Stay Blessed……..Mark

January 2024 posted by on January 1, 2024

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

Happy New Year !

I’m a hoping you had a great 2023

Mine was busy with live gigs, teaching

and completing my 4th CD.

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2024 !

Number 4 is titled Brand New Day

with 10 tunes I composed and produced.

It’s loaded with lot’s of great friends and musicians:

Baba Elefante, Tony Guerrero, Jon Hartmann

Scottie Haskell,Tateng Katendig, Colin Mitchell,

Felix Nunez, Ron Otis, Greg Vail, Mark Visher,

and Darryl Williams

As most of you know I make a living playing

other peoples music and I love it .

Making my own CD’s is just another place in my heart

where I let my guitar do all the singing, which is my first love.

If you would like to join me on this part of my journey

The Mark Carter Record Store is alive and well…

Brand New Day is $15 and I’ll pay the postage.

The Boxed Set is $40 and I’ll pay the postage.

(All 4 Cd’s including:

I’ts About TIme, West Coast Groove,

Smooth As Silk and Brand New Day)

You can email or call and we can schedule a payment

Mcpgtrtrax@aol.com or 626-485-9266

I’m looking forward to placing a new single on radio

and your help will go to that part of the adventure

Stay Blessd……..Mark

December 2023 posted by on December 4, 2023

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year !!

Just a quick note to wish you and yours

the best of this Holiday Season and a

new year filled with love, joy, dreams, 

and a home filled with lots of music !!



December 2023 Solo Shows

2 Divan restaurant Tustin 6-9 pm 

3 Private event Redlands evening

7 Private event Whittier evening

9 Esmeralda Hotel Indiann Wells  6-9pm

10 Private event Los Alimitos evening

14 Private event San Dimas afternoon

15 Private event Whittier evening

20 Private event Cucamonga afternoon

20 Private event Glendora evening

21 Private event La Mirada afternoon

21 Private event Whittier evening

24 Private event Costa Mesa afternoon

30 Private event Covina afternoon



Merry  Christmas.......Mark
November 2023 posted by on November 6, 2023

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

Happy Thanksgiving !

What a year !

I have so much to be grateful for.

Love from family, friends and work !

This year turned into one of the busiest I’ve ever had

And I’ve had a dozen music hungry guitar students

every week learning to rock the world !

I also enjoyed some nice travels to see family and friends

Utah, Arizona, and New York….fun !

And finally I’m proud to announce my 4th CD is coming around the bend.

Just a few last details and it will be ready by the first of the year.

Some great musicians jumped in on this project

and this one is self produced with some good help.

I think you’ll like the results…stay tuned .

November 2023 Solo Shows

1 Private event Covina afternoon

2 Private event Whittier evening

3 Private event Pasadena evening

8 Private event Chino afternoon

9 Private event Upland afternoon

9 Private event Whittier evening

11 Private event La Mirada evening

16 Private event San Dimas afternoon

16 Private event Whittier evening

18 Private event Glendora afternoon

22 Private event Brea afternoon

26 Private event Glendora afternoon

30 Private event Whittier afternoon

Stay Blessed…….Mark

October 2023 posted by on October 9, 2023

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

I Love NYC !!

I just got back from Manhattan. One of my very

favorite vacation spots. Lots of music, food,

theatre, jazz and friends.

I was able to meet 2 of my Zoom guitar students

in person that started in 2020…sweet, sweet people.

Nice to meet you Jessica & Paulina,

and thank you Annie for being so gracious !

I heard some great jazz guitar at Birdland

and a 9 piece horn band at Smalls.

And long time friends Jay & Becky drove in for dinner.

Too much fun !

ok….back to reality…..

October 2023 Solo Shows

8 Private event Costa Mesa afternoon

12 Private event Whittier evening

15 One and All Church San Dimas evening

18 Private event Cucamonga afternoon

19 Private event Whittier evening

21 Private event Highland Park evening

25 Private event Glendora evening

26 Private event San Dimas afternoon

26 Private event Whittier evening

28 Private event Glendora evening

29 Private event Redlands evening

31 Private event Chino afternoon

31 Private event Covina afternoon

31 Private event Covina evening

Stay Blessed…….Mark

September 2023 posted by on September 11, 2023

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

Just a quick hello folks.

Hoping you had a beautiful summer.

Mine was pretty busy and filled with some great gigs.

I was talking to one of my guitar students the other day

and during a very tuff time in this world (the pandemic)

I’ve met some great kids from across this country

that want to learn the guitar on Zoom and Facetime

I am still blown away by this and their

curiosity of music and exploring the guitar.

Greatful !

Special Show……

September 17 2023

10:15 to 11:00 am and 12:15 to 1:30pm

One and All Church

1404 W. Covina Blvd.

San Dimas 91773

Outdoor Celebration playing a variety of music !

Everyone is invited for a day of fun, food, fellowship and music .

September 2023 Solo Shows

4 Private event Brea morning

4 Private event Covina afternoon

7 Private event San Dimas afternoon

10 Joanie J’s House Party Los Alamitos afternoon

14 Private event Upland afternoon

17 One and All Church San Dimas

20 Private event Cucamonga afternoon

21 Private event Whittier evening

23 Private event San Dimas evening

24 Private event Redlands evening

27 Private event Brea afternoon

28 Private event Whittier evening

Stay Blessed…….Mark

August 2023 posted by on August 2, 2023
Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

The Joys of Summer…
My buddy since jr high just came by for a visit.
John and I learned to play guitar together back then.
The Ventures,The Stones, Creedence, Beatles,Johhny Cash,
all that stuff was our launching pad.
It was good to visit and play guitar hit the beach,have a hot dog,
and solve world problems…..Safe travels John .

Special Show……
Aug 5 2023 5-6 pm
The Tudor House Lake Arrowhead CA
My Solo Jazz show playing music from my recordings.
I’m opening for Bass legend Roberto Vally .
Tickets are at purplepass.com

August 2023 Solo Shows

3 Private event Whittier evening
5 Tudor House Lake Arrowhead evening
6 Private event Costa Mesa afternoon
12 Private event Redondo Beach afternoon
16 Private event Covina afternoon
17 Private event Whittier evening
18 Private event Chino afternoon
19 Private event Lake Forest afternoon
24 Private event San Dimas afternoon
31 Private event Whittier evening

Looks like a fun month..Stay Blessed…….Mark
July 2023 posted by on July 11, 2023

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

Lot’s of private gigs this month folk’s

Sooooooo it’s Story Time …

I’m a long time Tom Scott fan !

I saw him back in the 70’s at Cal State Fullerton

I bought his LA Express records and dug his playing.

Check out his name in Wiki.

Back in 2008 he saluted the great Cannonball Adderley

The same year I got a call to take my band

and play my music at a private party in Bel Air CA.

It was some party !! When the live Llamas arrived for

the kids petting zoo,…well, you get the picture.

So the band plays a set and we take a break

and I put on Tom Scott’s new release for break music.

I walk over to the bar and who is standing there

Tom Scott ! We talked and later the host asked me if

Tom could play a couple of tunes….

We were honored…What a treat for everyone !!

I just saw Tom again this past weekend at a Jazz Club

He’s still burnin’ it up…….Great Scott !!

July 2023 Solo Shows

2 Private event Glendora evening

3 Private event Covina afternoon

4 Private event Chino Hills afternoon

4 Private event San Dimas afternoon

6 Private event La Mirada afternoon

6 Private event Whittier evening

13 Private event Upland early afternoon

13 Private event Upland late afternoon

14 Private event Chino afternoon

19 Private event Cucamonga afternoon

20 Private event San Dimas afternoon

20 Private event Whittier evening

21 Private event Redondo Beach afternoon

26 Private event Brea afternoon

27 Private event Whittier early afternoon

27 Private event Whittier late afternoon

28 Private event La Mirada afternoon

June 2023 posted by on June 9, 2023

Hi Friends, Fans and Music Lovers

Happy Father’s Day Dad’s …I hope yours is filled with love,family and Good Grillin !

I just had a nice vacation visitng my son and his family. All doing well, working,happy and healthy !      We got in some time at the Go Kart Track, Bumper Cars,the new Mario movie, some exciting hands of Uno and enjoyed a square donut.All this and a trip to the annual Rat Fink Festival …Good times !

June 2023 Solo Shows

1 Private event Whittier evening

8 Private event La Mirada afternoon

10 Private event Redondo Beach afternoon

15 Private event Chino Hills afternoon

15 Private event Whittier evening

21 Private event Rancho Cucamonga afternoon

22 Private event San Dimas afternoon

23 Private event San Dimas evening

24 Private event Whittier morning

24 Private event Chino Hills afternoon

28 Private event Lake Forest afternoon

29 Private event Costa Mesa afternoon

30 Private event Chino Hills afternoon