About Marc
Marc has many interests and passions, and high up on that list are music and astronomy. Marc was born and raised in Medford Massachusetts, a true Bostonian, ( Mahc ). He performs songs of The Great American Songbook, as well as his own original music, at restaurants, bars, cafes, weddings, conferences, fund raising events, and other venues in the greater Boston area. Marc has an active and varied musical career. He is largely a self-taught musician, both vocally and at the keyboard. He also studied at Berklee College of Music.
He has written, produced, and recorded 7 albums of original music that can be heard here on this website, and on many on-line venues including Apple iTunes, Spotify, Pandora, and Amazon.
His musical influences range from Antonio Carlos Jobim, Dianne Reeves, Jimmy Hendrix, Nancy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Peggy Lee, Dave Brubeck, Keely Smith, Kenny Rankin, Chet Baker, Errol Garner, Dina Washington, Bill Evans, Dakota Staton, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and other jazz greats to John Lennon, Aretha Franklin, Joni Mitchell, Bette Midler, Chantal Chamberland, Justin Hayward, Leonard Cohen, The Delphonics, Jonny Lang, Judy Collins, Lady Gaga, Laura Nyro, Led Zeppelin, Luther Vandross, Mama Cass Eliot, October Project, Paul Simon, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Michael McDonald, Phoebe Snow, Ray Charles, Rob Thomas, Sade, Santana, Sarah Brightman, Shirley Bassey, Sting, The Temptations, Trisha Yearwood, Van Morrison, Ashford and Simpson, Carole King, Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, The Indigo Girls, Janis Joplin, Eva Cassidy, John Fogerty, Diana Ross, Dusty Springfield, and James Taylor. And in the arena of comedy: George Carlin, Lucille Ball, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, Bill Burr, Brian Regan, Chris Rock, Richard Prior, Lily Tomlin, Mary Tyler Moore, Jane Wagner, Norm Macdonald, and Carol Burnett. Photography: Ansel Adams and Annie Leibovitz.
Marc has enjoyed performing at many great and varied venues in the Boston area including: The Corinthian Yacht Cub, Wick’s, Abbott Hall with the Marblehead Festival of Arts for the Marblehead Arts Association, and Cafe La Serina Cafe in Marblehead, Seasons and now Kelly Greens Restaurant in Nahant, Bonefish in Lynn, Seaglass Wine and Beer in Swampscott, The Talk in Watertown, Caveleiros Steakhouse and The SAC Club in Lowell, The Gallery in Fitchburg, Red Rock Bistro, Cafe Avellino, and The Residence at Vinnin Square, in Swampscott, T’ahpas 529 and The Residence at Melrose Station in Melrose, Newbury Court in Concord Massachusetts, Sunrise Living in Peabody and Beverly, Wingate Residence in Haverhill, and… The Eiffel Tower! ( story to follow )…and many others.
History: Marc started writing music and songs in high school. While an undergraduate student at Boston University, Marc continued to write music and began honing his craft. Continuing as an undergratuate student at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washingtington, Marc along with singer/songwriter Dena Persell created a musical act and began to write and perform together. Those two had a little bit of magic. They entertained at the local coffee house and other venues. They created a varied and sustained body of original music, much of it recorded from live broadcasts over Whitman Colleges’ radio station. KWCW Radio. Fellow students Taylor Clark, Reed Price and Chuck Taylor and others assisted with the engineering, broadcasts, and recording of Marc and Dena’s musical performances. After graduation they continued traveling and entertaining in the San Francisco bay area, Los Angeles, and eventually Boston. Then, with the backing of a music agent, Marc moved to south Florida. There he teamed with vocalist Jim DuPuis performing in the many tourist bars and restaurants in the Fort Lauderdale area while also recording studio demos. A little less magic than “Dena and Marc” but musically growing and satisfying still. Moving back to Boston Marc found musical work in one of Boston’s iconic clubs, The Napoleon in Boston’s Bay Village.
The Recording Studios: Marc began working for the state of Massachusetts as a social worker while continuing to write music and perform. He then formalized his musical studies by enrolling in Berklee College of Music. He wrote extensively during this period and began compling an impressive body of original music. Marc started recording much of this new music at ESS Productions/Euphoria Sound Studios in Revere. Working with engineer and coproducer Aaron Clay, they recorded Marc’s 1st album of original tunes “Everything’s Changed”. Of note, on this album, Jeff Tiner cowrote the beautiful lyrics for the song “The Gift” making it so much richer. And Greg Healey assisted Marc in finding the true story in “Someone New”. Over the next several years, that album was swiftly followed by three addition albums of Marc’s original music “Moonlit Echoes”, “Driftwood“, and “Metamorphosis”.
These albums were all recorded “bare bones” with Marc at the studios’ grand piano laying down the keyboard tracks, and then returning to the vocal booth later to add the vocal tracks. Producer Aaron Clay was invaluable in these recordings, offering creative guidance and input.
During this recording period, two friends and musicians assisted Marc on 2 songs recorded at ESS Productions: pianist Steve Spector recorded the moving and full piano on “Broken Promises” from “Metamorphosis” , and vocalist Heidi Enrenfried added her beautiful voice to Marc’s on the haunting duet “Once Again” from “Moonlit Echoes”.
Marc’s next musical venture brought him to producer Tom Beier. Together he and Marc produced and arranged Marc’s instrumental album “FireDance“. It is here that Marc’s original compositions can be heard to fully expand and soar with Tom’s complex and beautiful multi instrument arrangements.
Marc was again fortunate to collaborate with another talented producer for his next two recording studio projects. Marc wrote and then coproduced with Miami based producer Mike Galvin the album “The Key“. On this album they layered Marc’s voice in harmonies on several tunes, ( She, I Need To Know ). Marc’s friend Jeff Tiner wrote the beautiful verses on their tune “The Way I Feel”. That album was also celebrated with a CD Release party at Red Rock Bistro in Swampscott. Al Whitney and John Fugarino joined Marc in performing several songs from that album for that fun celebration.
That album was next followed by: “One More Time”, again teaming with producer Mike Galvin. On this album Marc is joined by his friend John DiTomaso on trumpet and flugalhorn, John adding substantially and so creatively to the beauty of these songs. On this album Marc’s friend Stephen Perroni cowrote the lyrics to “Changes”, adding to the poetry and story of sustaining love. On this album Marc decided to combine 6 songs from the Great Anerican Songbook to 7 songs of his own.
Marc is currently at work writing and compilling songs for his next music album.
Collaborating: Early on, Marc and jazz guitarist Al Whitney formed their long lived duo “Just The Two Of Us”. They continue to perform together currently showcasing jazz standards and songs from The Great American Songbook. Some of the venues they have appeared at include: The SAC Club and Cavaleros in Lowell, as a 6 piece band at Red Rocks Bistro for brunches in Swampscott, The Danversport Yacht Club, Bel Ami In Beverly, The Black Olive in Tewksbury, Tewksbury Country Club, and many more. John Fugarino on trumpet often joined in on many of these gigs as well, enriching their sound.
Marc along with John DiTomaso on trumpet, flugelhorn and mandolin began another duo, performing at Cafe Avelino in Swampscott, The Marina in Revere, The Winthrop Yacht club and many others. Marc continues also as a solo performer as well: Cafe Serina and Wick’s in Marblehead, The Marina in Revere and The Corinthian Yacht Club in Marblehead, hi sbeloved Cafe Avelino in Swampscott, and many more. Marc also began his 10 year gig at The Tewksbury Country Club, becoming a staple there, performing wedding ceremonies, wedding cocktail hours, and entertaining at the grand piano in their main dining room year round, and on the patio in summers.
Other musicians have joined Marc: he and songwriter/guitarist Tim Foley performed a songwriters duo, each showcasing their original music together at The Walnut Street Cafe in Lynn. Theo Curtin also joined Marc in other performances as well, at the annual Cancer Walk for Life in Peabody, at Tewksubry Country Club, at times also joined by John DiTomaso as a trio.
Lecturing: Marc was invited by Julie Brooks, owner of GaGa Gallery in Swampscott, to exhibit his Astronomy photos in a month long exhibition. That exhibit also included a lecture by Marc on Astronomy and Eclipses. Marc was also invited by Kennedy Studios owner Chris Menzes to exhibit his astronomy photographs at that gallery as well. Marc’s astronomy photos were exhibited at Kennedy Studios over several years. A newspaper article from the Swampscott Reporter interviewed Marc for that exhibit and is that news story is incuded on the Photographs page here.
Combining Music and Astronomy! Ok , The Eiffel Tower story….During a Total Solar Eclipse trip to Europe, Marc had dinner at the Jules Verne restaurant at the top of Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. At the regular painist break, Marc was invited to sit in at the Grand Piano to briefly entertain guests with Errol Garner’s Misty. Truly a high point! A photo of that is in Gigs Photographs.
Recent Total Solar Eclipses: Marc traveled to Casper Mountain in Wyoming on August 21, 2017 and to Geneva On The Lake Ohio on April 8, 2024 and was successful in witnessing and photographing that rare and spectacular astronomical event. Photos of both those Total Solar Eclipses are featured on the Astronomy section of the Photographs page here. Other Total Solar Eclipse expeditions are planned.
Now: In addition to his ongoing musical career, Marc continues to exhibit his photographs and lecture at local galleries and at other educational venues on his experiences and travels to see and photograph Total Solar Eclipses. His recent lecture at the Swampscott Community Center was well attended with a fun and lively question and answer period. He is a current member of the Swampscott Art Association and was elected vice president to their board of directors. On March 18, 2024 Marc won the “People’s Choice Award” from The Swampscott Art Association for his photograph “Follow Me”. On April 3, 2024 Marc was featured in the Lynn Item Newspaper.
Transcribing: Marc began transcribing, in collaboration with fellow Berklee College of Music alumni John Dorney, a talented singer/songwriter and musician, the music from his albums into sheet music and songbooks. Together they have transscribed several of Marc’s albums, and continue to work on this project. This project entails also entails transcribing the songs from the duo with Dena Persell, as well as his new songs tunes planned for the next music album.
Education and a 2nd Professional Career : Marc studied at both Boston University Whitman College as an undergraduate. He holds a B.A in Sociology from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. He also studied at Berkee College of Music in Boston. He graduated from the University of Massachusetts in Boston with an M.Ed in Counseling. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor. He spent 35 years of his “Day Job” career as a Supervisor and Social Worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of Developmental Services, and a Therapist With Health and Education Services in Salem. He joined the team at North Shore Counseling & Behavioral Medicine Associates in Peabody during the pandemic. He now has a small private practise of his own.
Other interests include: Fitness and Nutrition, Exercise, Fish Keeping, Physics, and Comedy.
Thanks: To my parents, (Leo and Camille) who fostered and encouraged the budding impulses and curiosity that grew into a world of creative freedom and then…music. To Gene Yonkers, for a lifetime of love and support musically and in all ways large and small, seen and unseen, that matter. Marc is grateful to the many musicians and friends he has had the pleasure to work with, and continues to gig and collaborate with. In no particular order they are: Al Whitney, John DiTomaso, Theo Curtin, John Fugarino, Dena Persell, Greg Healey, Steve Spector, Jeff Healey, Heidi Ehrenfried, Tim Foley, Mike Galvin, Aaron Clay, Tom Beier, Jeff Tiner, Mark Welcome, Mark Cataldo, and Janine Graham.
And grateful also for past and ongoing kindness and support from the many restaurant owners, activities directors, gallery owners, family and friends, including: Gene Yonkers, Lisa Barr, Helyn Carey, Teddy Jordan, Greg Healey, Paul Albushies, Teresa Sirignano, Paul Sousa, Margot Summerhill, Jeanne Armstrong, Patricia and Gabby D’Antona, Michelle Meehan, Harry Cahill, Jake Yates, Diana DiTomaso, Susan Cathcart, Tom Uhland, Teresa Corricelli, Joe Allouise, Maggie Cruz, Jeff Dragon, Cathy Foley, Brian Albushies, Tiana Celesia, Cheri Crow, Kim Pierce, Rosanne Daigle, Linda Magnell, Sue MacNamara, Sarah Gaffney, Jeff Healey, Janice Hoffman, Nancy DePasquale, Bob Leo, Rona Logue, Stephen Perroni, Chris Menzes, Julie Brooks, Smilia Marvosh, Jes Medoff, Tony Crossman, Natasha Medwedeff, Sussane Meninger, Neil Kirstein, Carla Cichercia, Mark Mulvanity, Ellen Pahl-Schlafman, Kim Pierce, KK Sherber, Alaina Yonkers, Ruth Rooks, Paul and Julie Messerschmidt, Sally Sampson, Donna Levin, Rich Yonkers, Paul Norris, Laurie and Gene O’Brien, Sharon and Suzanne Provencher, Marilyn Ruzzo, and so many more. Thank You!
Favorite Quotes:
“He listens with an intensity most reserve for speaking” (Lilly Tomlin and Jane Wagner)
“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need”. (The Rolling Stones)
“A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants!” (Chuckles The Clown )
“You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us. And the world will live as one.” (
“Fuck ’em if they can’t take a joke!” (Bette Midler)
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us” (J.R.R. Tolkien)
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they are felt with the heart. All grown-ups were once children, but only few of them remember it. And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.” (Antoine de Saint-Exupery )