Mark Heard

John Mark Heard (1951-August 1992) was a record producer, singer, and songwriter originally from Macon, Georgia.

Related Topics:
1951 - August - 1992 - Record producer - Singer - Songwriter - Macon, Georgia

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Mark Heard released 16 records in his lifetime, and produced and performed with many other artists as well, such as Sam Phillips, Pierce Pettis, Phil Keaggy, Vigilantes of Love, Peter Buck of R.E.M. (who co-produced VOL's album Killing Floor with Heard), John Austin and Michael Been of The Call. Heard produced part of Olivia Newton-John's The Rumor, which also included a cover of Heard's own "Big and Strong".

Related Topics:
Sam Phillips - Pierce Pettis - Phil Keaggy - Vigilantes of Love - Peter Buck - R.E.M. - John Austin - Michael Been - The Call - Olivia Newton-John

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On July 4, 1992, Heard suffered a heart attack on stage while performing with Pierce Pettis and Kate Miner, at the Cornerstone Festival, near Chicago, Illinois. Heard finished his set and went to the hospital immediately afterwards. Shortly after being released from the hospital two weeks later, Heard had a cardiac arrest and died in August of 1992.

Related Topics:
July 4 - Cornerstone Festival - Chicago, Illinois - August

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In 1994, many artists came together to record a tribute album called Strong Hand of Love. Artists lending their talents to the project included Victoria Williams, Chagall Guevara, Buddy Miller, Julie Miller, Daniel Amos, The Choir, Rich Mullins, Bruce Cockburn, and the Vigilantes of Love. The project was later reissued as a 2 CD set with additional tracks and retitled Orphans of God.

Related Topics:
1994 - Victoria Williams - Chagall Guevara - Buddy Miller - Julie Miller - Daniel Amos - The Choir - Rich Mullins - Bruce Cockburn

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In 2003, Cornerstone Press, a company which is owned by the same people that organize the Cornerstone festival, published an authorized biography of Heard called Hammers and Nails. A collection of previously unreleased demos was also released by Paste Music under the same title.

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At the 4th Annual Americana Music Association Honors & Awards, the Ryman Auditorium September 2005, Buddy Miller received the Album of the Year Award for his Universal United House of Prayer, and the opening cut of that album, Mark Heard's "Worry Too Much" (originally featured on Heard's Second Hand, Fingerprint Records 1991), won the Song of the Year Award.

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