Miko Marks Explained

Miko Marks
Birth Name:Miko Marks
Birth Place:Flint, Michigan
Origin:Flint, Michigan
Instrument:Vocals, acoustic guitar
Genre:Country
Occupation:Singer songwriter
Years Active:2005–present
Label:Mirrome, Brown Bear, Aspirion
Website:http://www.mikomarks.com/

Miko Marks is an American Americana singer based in Oakland, California. She was born in Flint, Michigan. She attended from 1990 to 1994 Grambling State University in Louisiana where she got her degree in Political Science.[1] She later moved to San Francisco. Marks was named Best New Country Artist at the 2006 New Music Weekly Awards.[2]

Career

Marks released her debut single, "Freeway Bound," in 2005. It was followed by her debut album, also titled Freeway Bound, which was released on September 13, 2005. Three further singles ("Kickin' Back," "Mama," and "Don't Come Cryin' to Me") were released from the album in 2006. "Mama" featured Marks' first music video, which included a guest appearance by Erykah Badu assuming the title role.[3] Her second studio album, It Feels Good, followed in 2007 after the release of lead-off single "Locked and Loaded." Both were produced by Ron Cornelius and released under the Mirrome Records imprint.[4]

In his review of It Feels Good, Stewart Mason of allmusic awarded the album 3 and 1/2 stars, drawing comparisons to the Dixie Chicks and Gretchen Wilson while commenting that the album "clicks on every level, making it a solidly enjoyable neo-traditionalist country listen."

In 2021, Marks released “Our Country,” her first new album in over a decade.[5] The album's lead single and music video are "We Are Here".[6]

In October 2022, Marks performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. According to CMT, her performance received two standing ovations.[7]

In October of 2023, Marks collaborated with the Fisk Jubilee Singers for an updated version of her song "Jubilee" [8]

Family

She married young and had a son, Justin. Her husband works as local firefighter.[9]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbum details
2005Freeway Bound
  • Release date: September 13, 2005
  • Label: Mirrome/Brown Bear
2007It Feels Good
  • Release date: August 21, 2007
  • Label: Mirrome/Aspirion
2021Our Country
  • Release date: March 26, 2021
  • Label: Redtone
2022Feel Like Going Home[10]
  • Release date: October 14, 2022
  • Label: Redtone

Singles

YearSingleAlbum
2005"Freeway Bound"Freeway Bound
2006"Kickin' Back"
"Mama"
"Don't Come Cryin' to Me"
2007"Locked & Loaded"It Feels Good
2019"Roll Out"[11]
2021"We Are Here"Our Country
2022"Feels Like Going Home"
"Trouble"[12]
2023"Still Here" [13]
"Jubilee" [14]

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
2006"Mama"
2007"Locked & Loaded"Edward Rosenblum[15]
2013"Help"

Awards and nominations

YearAssociationCategoryResult
2006New Music WeeklyBest New Country Artist[16]
The Independent Music AwardsCountry Album of the Year – Freeway Bound
2007Independent Music AwardsCountry Song of the Year – "Freeway Bound"
2008Independent Music AwardsCountry Album of the Year – "It Feels Good"
2008Independent Music AwardsCountry Song of the Year- "It Feels Good"

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.mikomarks.com/about
  2. Book: Henderson, Shirley. The Storyteller Miko Marks. June 2008. Ebony. 88. June 5, 2010.
  3. Web site: Official Miko Marks Website - 2007 Country Album of the Year . April 7, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100613005353/http://www.mikomarks.com/about.html . June 13, 2010 .
  4. Web site: Home . mirrome.com.
  5. News: Rodman. Sarah. 2021-02-17. Black, Female and Carving Out Their Own Path in Country Music. en-US. The New York Times. 2021-02-19. 0362-4331.
  6. Web site: PREMIERE: Miko Marks Highlights the Struggles of Her Hometown in "We Are Here" Video. https://web.archive.org/web/20210409181322/http://www.cmt.com/news/1832519/premiere-miko-marks-video-we-are-here/. dead. April 9, 2021.
  7. Web site: Dream Realized: Miko Marks Receives Two Standing Ovations at Grand Ole Opry Debut . https://web.archive.org/web/20221019072054/https://www.cmt.com/news/5zcnk5/dream-realized-miko-marks-receives-two-standing-ovations-at-grand-ole-opry-debut . dead . October 19, 2022 .
  8. Web site: Miko Marks releases 'Jubilee,' a rootsy collaboration with the Fisk Jubilee Singers . .
  9. https://www.mikomarks.com/about
  10. Web site: Miko Marks' New Album 'Feel Like Going Home' Set for October 14 . October 3, 2022 .
  11. Web site: Oakland's Rollerskating Country Singer. November 2019 .
  12. Web site: Bristol Rhythm & Roots: 6 Standout Sets from This Year's Festival . September 28, 2022 .
  13. Web site: First Listen: A music pioneer, Rissi Palmer is 'Still Here' . Soul Tracks . March 25, 2023 . May 15, 2023.
  14. Web site: Miko Marks Calls on Fisk Jubilee Singers for 'Jubilee'. American Songwriter . October 13, 2023 . October 13, 2023.
  15. Web site: Music Video-rama.
  16. Web site: New Music Weekly . June 18, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110714173031/http://www.newmusicweekly.com/news2.php?a=116 . July 14, 2011 .