Mark Lavey I Pray CD

Riding on the heels of landing three (3) original songs within the top 100 of the 5th annual Contemporary Christian Music Network International (CCMNI) songwriting contest www.christiansongwriting.com, not to mention national TV’s VH1 network contacting his publishing company for the use of another song, Mark Lavey is on the brink of something special. Presently living in the Twin Cities, Mark is an accomplished singer/songwriter who plays, produces, and arranges his own music. With an adult Christian contemporary-pop flavor, his latest project and new CD, "I Pray", was released in December of 2007. “I’m very passionate about the messages in my music because they have ministered to many people,” Mark exclaims adding, “I thank God for using me to serve Him.” Mark is pitching his material as an artist/performer looking for a recording contract, a songwriter in search of a major publishing deal, or additional work as a session guitar player. His faith and talent come together in no finer example than when Mark received a phone call from a family 200 miles away from his home, asking for permission to engrave the lyrics to one of his songs “Walk In The Ways Of Our Lord” on their 6 year old daughter’s tombstone. She had recently been killed in a car accident. While a sit-in bass player for the pop group The Rembrandts in the late 80’s, Mark continued to write and record his own material in addition to doing session guitar work at Creation Studios in Minneapolis, owned and operated by Steve Wiese (Steve Miller Band, Paula Abdul) and Terry Grant (Lipps, Inc., Lamont Cranston). Busy shopping his music, Mark also had the good fortune of appearing on TV in Nashville in 1987, thanks to his original “With You” placing 17th out of 50,000 songs in a national songwriting contest. With the song drawing interest, local doors opened and a few of his originals snuck in on Minneapolis radio. In 1991, Mark teamed up with The Music Staff’s Decker Velie to record a 5 song demo at James Walsh’s (Gypsy) Metro Studios in Minneapolis. It was through Decker that he met Billy Barber, composer of the “All My Children” theme song and a national recording artist living in Nashville. Billy’s “A Million Miles Away” was Mark’s first track on the demo. Rob Arthur, now the keyboard player for Peter Frampton, was one of Mark’s session players. But it was through this demo’s outcome and misfortunes of the cold-hard business that Mark decided his morals were more important than success. His once-steady musical pursuit was now on hold…In July of 2001, Mark and his family suffered the loss of their infant son. Compounding matters, the end of August found him laid off and looking for work. Less than two weeks later, the devastation of 911 left America grieving. Having felt like the world was crashing around him, Mark turned to the one thing he could always depend on…God and music. With a renewed dedication to follow Christ, Mark set out to record his solo debut “Positive Thinking.” It was this recording, released in January of 2003, where Mark shared a very personal life. Weaving heartfelt, yet, positive stories about his affirming love for God and living life as a Christian. The CD also showcased a broad range of original musical styles, confirming the deep fondness in which Mark has for all types of music. A new ministry for Mark was born. He had to share his story…Today, you can find Mark as worship leader on Sunday mornings at a contemporary service called “The Table” at his church, Shepherd Of The Valley, in Apple Valley, MN.