Birth name Mark Alexander Smith Name Mark Smith Years active 1980–2009 | Genres Jazz, funk, folk rock | |
 | ||
Born 25 February 1960 ( 1960-02-25 ) Died 2 November 2009(2009-11-02) (aged 49)
Battersea, London Occupation(s) Bassist
record producer | ||
Instruments Bass guitar, keyboards | ||
Mark Alexander Smith (25 February 1960 – 2 November 2009) was a British bassist and record producer, who became known as a session musician for numerous artists and also as one-time bassist for the mid-1980s synth-rock band, Boys Don't Cry.
Career
Smith played bass guitar in recordings and performances with The Waterboys, Leo Sayer, Gonzales, Percy Sledge, Terry Reid, Alvin Stardust, Chris Farlowe, Patricia Kaas, Bryan Ferry, Chris Spedding, Tony O'Malley, Barbara Dickson, Tim Cody, Shania Twain, Zoot Sims, Neneh Cherry, Lionel Richie, Ronan Keating, Malcolm McLaren, Charlotte Church, Van Morrison, George Michael and Javier Álvarez, and also produced records for young and up and coming British bands. Smith was the permanent bassist in The Waterboys in 2009, and a frequent performer with Tony O'Malley. He had his own music performance outfit, The Futility Orchestra.
Smith was the bass guitarist with The Adam Phillips Band, that included, Adam Phillips, Paul Stacey, Jo Burt, Ash Soan, Mike Gorman, and Melvin Duffy.
The 1970s jazz funk band, Kokomo, was temporarily reformed in May 2008. With Smith were Tony O'Malley, Mel Collins, Neil Hubbard, Adam Phillips, Andy Hamilton, Bernie Holland, Glen Le Fleur, Paddy McHugh, Dyan Birch, and Frank Collins. There were also performances by Eddy Armani and Franke Pharoah.
Mark Smith died suddenly at his Battersea, London home, in November 2009.