Mark True, a singer-songwriter from Nashville, Tennessee, recently moved to Auburn and has enjoyed performing at local events.
True said he has always been passionate about music.
“I started singing at an early age," True said. "I started writing songs in the seventh grade."
True said he did not grow up in a very musical family, however he said his family has great rhetoric.
“My dad is sort of a writer and a speaker and good with words," True said. "So, writing … or wordsmithing … was kind of natural in my family."
True said he was in numerous bands throughout his childhood and later years, which led to his popularity.
“Throughout high school I played in a little trio, and we were just booked all the time," True said. "I found out early it was a great way to make a good amount of money without having to bag groceries or flip burgers or do all the things that all of my other friends were doing."
While attending the University of Tennessee on a music scholarship, he played in the Pride of the Southland Marching Band.
He also was cast in Opryland, which took him to Nashville and led to his transfer to Belmont University to major in music business.
When he was 18 years old, he signed to ABC/Dot Records as a staff writer. The record company later became MCA Records, which was the foundation for Universal Music Group in the 1990s.
“I spent a couple years there just sort of meeting people, learning my craft," True said. "I got to meet Jimmy Buffett. We were signed on the same day, actually. That was pretty cool. I met a lot of musicians, other writers, and I learned the business."
Later, he was signed as staff writer at a publishing company known as Pick-a-Lick.
“It became the hottest publishing company in town,” True said.
The company had 11 No. 1 hits in two years, and True had his first No. 1 with Crystal Gayle, titled “Why Have You Left the One You Left Me For.”
It was No. 1 in country and adult contemporary and No. 14 in pop.
“That’s been my biggest song to date,” True said.
Gayle recorded another one of True’s songs, “Too Many Lovers,” which had worldwide chart success.
“Then I had a song recorded by Don Williams, which is really my favorite recording to date, which is 'Don’t Stop Loving Me Now,'" True said. "I had a really good nine-to-10-year run in Nashville where I was walking Music Row as one of the top writers, and it was a great time to be in Nashville."
True also works for Auburn Audio Visual, where he does system design and sales.
As for the future, True said he has no intentions of stopping his music pursuits.
“I’m still pitching songs and still getting heard by artists, and every now and then, I’m getting some songs recorded,” True said.
True has performed at Blooming Colors events to prepare for the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, where he will be performing at venues along the coast from Fairhope to Pensacola, Florida, starting Thursday, Nov. 5.
"It’s a really big thing and only big writers get to go down there," True said. "I haven’t played in a while, so I was just trying to find a place to slip in under the radar and start playing a little bit and get used to it before I had to go play that larger, important show."
He also said he wants to continue performing at smaller events in the future.
"I really enjoy Blooming Colors," True said. "It’s a great little venue, and it reminds me sort of like a French cafe, outdoors sort of thing where people just come and go."
Blooming Colors customer Kay McCartney said True drew her to attend the Sundown at Blooming Colors event.
"We decided we could come over and hear the music and have dinner while we were here,” McCartney said.
True's singer-songwriter style varies in music genres, and he said he likes his lyrics to be easily understood.
“If it’s anything, I guess it’s just the breadth and the various styles of music that I write, and I’m not pinned down to one thing," True said. "Hopefully it’s all good, that’s all I care about. Something about me is you don’t have to try to figure out what I’m writing about. My songs are meant for singers that have melodies and that have beginnings, middles and ends. I’m not a really a storyteller-songwriter in that sense."
He said he is a strong believer in the power of music and its effect on people.
“I’ve always said everybody should play something, and if you write something, whether you keep a journal, write poetry or just little stories, it kind of keeps you out of therapy," True said. "Really, I mean, music is just a great release."
Penny McCoy, who has known True for about 29 years, is a huge supporter of his music.
“He’s so talented. I feel sure that he’s going to be a number one hit again,” said McCoy.
True will be playing at Blooming Colors Friday, Sept. 25, from 6-9 p.m.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
