Mark Ledford

01 / The Detroit story

The Detroit story

Mark Ledford was born and grew up in Detroit, studying violin and trumpet as a boy before leaving for Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied from 1978 to 1982. After graduating he took a job in advertising while building a career as a session musician, working with Jon Hendricks, Michael Brecker, Living Colour and Prince, and contributing to the soundtracks of Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing and Mo' Better Blues. In 1986 he began a long association with guitarist Pat Metheny, touring with the Pat Metheny Group as trumpeter and wordless vocalist and appearing on the Grammy-winning albums Still Life (Talking) and Secret Story. He also sang in Bobby McFerrin's a cappella ensemble Circle Songs and played in vibraphonist Joe Locke's Storytelling Band, and from 1990 to 1992 taught trumpet master classes at the Banff Centre in Canada. His 1998 solo album Miles 2 Go was a tribute to Miles Davis. He died of heart failure in Los Angeles in 2004, aged 44.

Highlights

1. Member of the Pat Metheny Group from 1986
2. On the Grammy-winning Still Life (Talking) and Secret Story
3. Played on Spike Lee soundtracks Do the Right Thing and Mo' Better Blues
4. Solo album Miles 2 Go (1998)