Mark Ramos Nishita(born February 10, 1960),[1]known professionally asMoney Mark,is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with theBeastie Boysfrom 1992 until 2011.
Money Mark | |
|---|---|
 Money Mark in March 2007 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mark Ramos Nishita |
| Born | February 10, 1960 Detroit,Michigan, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles,California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Various |
Early life
editBorn inDetroitto a Japanese-Hawaiian father and aChicanamother, Nishita moved with his family toLos Angeles,California, when he was six years old.[1]
Career
editHis first album,Mark's Keyboard Repair(1995), was made up of keyboard driven pop-funk songs recorded at demo quality.Guy Ritchieused a song from the album in the film,Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.This was followed up by theThird Version EP(1996) andPush the Button(1998), for which Mark received critical praise.[2]Whereas his 1996 EP was similar to his debut,Push the Buttonwas extremely eclectic, combining aspects ofrock musicandpopwithsoul,funkandhip hop.[2]This LP was met with good reviews, as was his 2001 follow upChange Is Comingwhich had a tropical yet danceable disco and funk sound.[3]
Mark met theBeastie Boysduring their migration to the West Coast, through mutual friend,Mario Caldato Jr.,who asked Mark (who was working as a carpenter) to fix the wooden gate at the entrance of the property where the band was staying when they were recordingPaul's Boutique.[4][5]He helped them build a studio, and quickly became a principal collaborator. He performed, wrote, and collaborated on every Beastie Boys album from 1992'sCheck Your Headto the group's final album, 2011'sHot Sauce Committee Part Two.Mark co-authored theGrammy Awardwinning albumThe Mix-Up.
Money Mark contributed the keyboard phrase that opens and underpins "Where It's At" fromBeck's 1996 album,Odelay.He played keyboards on tour for theOmar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintetin support of theirself-titled album.He has since become a full member of the quintet, appearing on the live EP withDamo SuzukicalledPlease Heat This Eventuallyand several other albums, with his debut full-length collaboration with the group being the Quintet's second LP release,The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange.In 1996, Money Mark contributed the song "Use Your Head (Use a Sua Cabeca)" to the AIDS benefit albumRed Hot + Rioproduced by theRed Hot Organization.He also contributed songs to Red Hot'sSilencio=Muerte: Red Hot + LatinandRed Hot + Rhapsodya tribute toGeorge Gershwin.In 2004, Mark scored and played all instruments for HBO's first ever documentary prime time series, "Family Bond's," directed by Steve Santor. That same year, Mark also contributed original songs and score cues for "Along Came Polly," "Fun With Dick and Jane," and "The Devil Wears Prada."
In September 2006, Money Mark signed toJack Johnson'sBrushfire Recordslabel.Brand New By Tomorrow,his first album with Brushfire, was released in February 2007. In late 2006, he opened forGnarls Barkleyat the Riviera Theatre in Chicago. In 2007, Money Mark and The Woodrow Jackson Orchestra recorded a cover version ofLove Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme" forEngine Room Recordings' compilation albumGuilt by Association.Money Mark composed original music for the 2008 documentary filmBeautiful Losers.[6]
In 2011, he contributed theMario C.Remix of "Tropicaliá" withBeckandSeu Jorge,and playedHammond B-3organ on "Look Around"from theRed Hot Chili PeppersalbumI'm With You,as well as a version of the song "Tropical Affair" withThalma de Freitasand João Parahyba forRed Hot Organization'smost recent charitable album "Red Hot+Rio 2." The album is a follow-up to the 1996 "Red Hot + Rio."Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.
Mark scored the Slamdance Audience Award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary film,Getting Up: The Tempt One Story.[7]
Money Mark worked alongsideMike McCreadyandStefan Lessardand contributed to many of the tracks used in the soundtrack to the 2011 film,Horrible Bosses.
He performed in 2011 withKaren Oon her pop operaStop the Virgens.[8]
Over the course of his career, Mark has done recording sessions with theRolling Stones,Iggy Pop,Nile Rodgers,Yoko Ono,Carlos Santana,Lee Scratch Perry,Jorge Ben,Dangermouse,Moby,Mixmaster Mike,theYeah Yeah Yeahs,Red Hot Chili Peppers,Seu Jorge,Jack Johnson,andThe Mars Volta.
He was a regular guest onDVDASA,a podcast hosted byDavid ChoeandAsa Akira.He is also part of the band, Mangchi, with David Choe and Steven Lee.
In the spring of 2016, it was announced that Money Mark would be touring with The Claypool Lennon Delirium, a collaboration between Les Claypool and Sean Lennon. From the Prawn Song Newsletter, "Les Claypool and Sean Lennon’s newly formed band, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, will hit the road this summer for an extensive tour of the United States. Rounding out the band with Les and Sean will be Money Mark on keyboards and Paulo Baldi on drums. In addition to playing Bonnaroo, Vertex and Peach festivals, The Claypool Lennon Delirium will play a number of headline shows across the country."
On July 31, 2020, he was featured onLinkin ParkfrontmanMike Shinoda’s third studio album,Dropped Frames, Vol. 2,on the track “Isolation Bird.”
In 2021, talent manager Tamayu Takayama connected Money Mark with the Japanese girl groupAtarashii Gakko.He co-wrote and produced songs on theirSNACKTIMEEP, their debut on the88risinglabel, and their 2024 albumAG! Calling.He is credited with spurring the evolution of the group's sound and image.[9][10]
On July 20, 2023, he performed on the keyboard forCypress Hillon the NPR YouTube seriesTiny Desk.
Solo discography
edit| Money Mark discography | |
|---|---|
| Studio albums | 7 |
| EPs | 5 |
| Live albums | 1 |
| Singles | 7 |
Studio albums
edit- Mark's Keyboard Repair(1995, Mo' Wax)
- Push the Button(1998, Mo' Wax)
- Change Is Coming(2001)
- Father Demo Square(2005, Rush! Production)
- Brand New by Tomorrow(2007, Brushfire Records)
- Stand Up for Your Rice!(2007, Rush! Production)
- Songs from Studio D(2011, Rush! Production)
Live albums
edit- Mark on the Mike(1998, Toy's Factory)
Extended plays
edit- Performing Chicken EP(1994, Fido Speaks Music/Love Kit Records)
- Legitimate Pop Songs? - Money Mark Live at Rough Trade(1996, Mo' Wax)
- Third Version EP(1996, Mo' Wax)
- Love Stains: A Demo(2002)
- Demo? Or Demolition? EP(2004, Chocolate Industries)
Singles
edit- "Insects Are All Around Us" / "Cry" (1995)
- "Cry" (1995)
- "Hand in Your Head" (1998)
- "Maybe I'm Dead" (1998)
- "Burn Away" (2005)
- "Pick Up the Pieces" (2006)
Compilations
editReleases on Mo' Wax
edit- MW 034 LPMark's Keyboard Repair LP
- MW 090Push The Button LP
- MW 090 LPPush The Button LP (One 12 ", One 10" & One 7 ")
- MW 032Insects Are All Around Us / Cry 7 "
- MW 036Cry 12 "
- MW 032 PAlbum Sampler 10 "
- MW 043 DJThird Version 7 "(Promo)
- MW 043 MLPThird Version EP 10 "(Mini Album)
- MW 044Legitimate Pop Songs? - Money Mark Live At Rough Trade 7 "
- MW 066Hand In Your Head 12 "
- MW 066 DJCry (Dust Brothers Remix) / Got My Hand In Your Head (New Mix) 10 "(Promo)
- MW 066 DJ2Hand In Your Head 12 "(Promo)
- MW 089Maybe I'm Dead 12 "
- MW 089 DJMaybe I'm Dead 12 "(White Label Promo)
- MW 089 SMaybe I'm Dead 7 "(Ltd 7" Shaped Chihuahua)
Collaboration discography
edit- WithAtarashii Gakko
- SNACKTIME(2021)
- AG! Calling(2024)
- With theBeastie Boys
- Check Your Head(1992)
- Ill Communication(1994)
- Hello Nasty(1998)
- The Mix-Up(2007)
- Hot Sauce Committee Part Two(2011)
- WithBanyan
- Banyan(1997)
- WithDanger Doom
- The Mouse and the Mask(2005)
- Please Heat This Eventually(2006)
- Se Dice Bisonte, No Búfalo(2007)
- Omar Rodriguez-Lopez & Lydia Lunch(2007)
- The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange(2007)
- Calibration (Is Pushing Luck and Key Too Far)(2007)
- WithHello Seahorse!
- Lejos. No tan Lejos(2010)
- WithBig Sir
- With theJohn Butler Trio
- Grand National(2007)
- WithNação Zumbi
- Track "Assustado", from albumFome de Tudo(2007)
- WithJoseph D'Anvers
- Kids(2008)
- WithYo Gabba Gabba
- Robodancing(2008)
- WithKinky
- Those Girls(2009)
- WithShawn LeeandTommy Guerrero
- Lord Newborn and The Magic Skulls(2009)
- I'm With You(2011)
- WithBoots Electric
- Honkey Kong(2011)
- WithLinkin Park
- Recharged(2012)
- WithHalo Orbit
- Halo Orbit(2016)
- The Monolith Of Phobos(2016)
- WithMolotov
- Unplugged(2018)
- WithTT
- LoveLaws(2018)
References
edit- ^abAnkeny, Jason."Money Mark Biography".Allmusic.RetrievedOctober 23,2022.
Born February 10, 1960 in Detroit, MI.
- ^abColin Larkin,ed. (1998).The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music(First ed.).Virgin Books.p. 226.ISBN0-7535-0252-6.
- ^Dowling, Stephen (June 1998)."Money Mark: Push the Button".Vox(92).RetrievedAugust 17,2021.
- ^Leroy, Dan (May 12, 2018)."What happens when you rent out your house to the Beastie Boys?".salon.com.RetrievedMay 13,2018.
- ^Mack, Bob (April 20, 2017)."Living X-Tra: Spin's 1992 Beastie Boys Cover Story".spin.com.RetrievedMay 13,2018.
- ^"SIDETRACK FILMS / Beautiful Losers".Archived fromthe originalon September 1, 2008.RetrievedApril 1,2008.
- ^"IMDB Getting Up".IMDB.
- ^"Karen O in STOP THE VIRGENS".Vivid Sydney. May 8, 2019.
- ^"Legendary composer/producer Money Mark talks to AJ about recording with Atarashii Gakko! AG chat #17".June 29, 2024.RetrievedOctober 20,2024.
- ^"On 'AG! Calling,' Atarashii Gakko! Declare That Youth Is Never Lost — No Matter Your Age | GRAMMY.com".grammy.com.RetrievedOctober 20,2024.
- ^link Vinylnet.co.ukArchived2007-07-02 at theWayback Machine
- ^"I Big Sir (Juan &..."Facebook. Archived fromthe originalon February 26, 2022.RetrievedApril 17,2012.
