Specialization:
Band leader, Composer, Dreamer, Arranger, Songwriter, Musician (guitar, balafon, ethnic instruments), Singer, Sound Designer.

Biography:
Unconventionality: Black Market Music
by Moon Jung

It has been said less than 2 percent of the world's population is able to actually make their passion their career. Marc Black, principle composer, arranger, producer and visionary Black Market Music, is one of the lucky few. Perhaps part of Black's success lies in his almost Taoist approach to each project, one in which he follows the natural flow of events, and refuses to see things through the glasses of conventionalism.

"Our idea is to make the film come alive, tuning in to the intention of the directors and creatives," Black explains. "Dressing up a spot with sound can be fun. But we look to undress it, so the film-and the idea-can blossom."

His approach has worked. Over the years, Black Market Music has created 'beautiful music' for dozens of television commercials, films and cd's. Many have won awards and earned accolades, including a Gold Promax Award, a Mobius for Best Original Music, and finalist berths in the 2000 New York festivals and the 2000 London International Advertising Awards, and pick hits in Billboard magazine.

His musical tastes evolved over the years in to include such artists as Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, Oscar Peterson, Neil Young, Bob Dylan and The Beatles. Black is also an accomplished musician in his own right, performing in bands for as long as he can remember. While still in high school, his band, Blades of Grass, had a top-10 hit. Their album is being re-released this winter by Cherry Red Records in England. As a gigging musician, based out of Woodstock, N.Y., he spent a good portion of the 1970s fronting the Marc lack Band and touring the U.S. and Europe. He's currently leading The Funky Sex Gods with a new CD, "Dance Steps Included."

"I have always had an affinity for live performances and feel that there is nothing like sound that is created from moment to moment inspiration," he says.

As an 11-year veteran of the commercial music industry, Black has accrued extensive insight into the power inherent in many diverse music styles, from the organic sounds of world music to folk, psychedelic rock, ambient, jazz, and blues. He specializes in using nontraditional (to western audiences) instruments and musicians from all over the globe.

To accomplish this appearance of effortlessness, Black often jumps into the creative process early in the game. He and his crew frequently travel to where clients are shooting or doing post, allowing them to spend more time with creatives and get a deeper idea of what the client really wants. Over the past year, Black Market has recorded in San Francisco, L.A., Toronto, New York City, Austin, and Mexico City.

Partial Client List:
American Express AST AT & T Audi Budweiser Cartoon Network CellularOne Chrysler Drug Partnership of America Ford Houston Chronicle Inktomi Kirin Levi's MCI		Men's Warehouse Microsoft Milkbone Nabisco Nickelodeon Panasonic Playhut Sheltering Arms Showtime Special Olympics Sprite Trident Tropicana United Health Care Weyerhaeuser

Professional Affiliations/Memberships:
ASCAP, AFTRA, AFofM Local 802, SAG, ShopRite Value Shopper, Perks "10 cup" club.

Awards:
MOBIUS - Best Original Music/AT & T
American Library Association Award - "American Children"
"Antics"/Nickolodeon Siggraph '98, Gold CTAM
"Marathon," Finalist New York Festivals
Finalist: London International Advertising for "Soul"