Mark Selby

A gifted guitarist, live performer and hit songwriter, Mark Selby's career is one of unusual depth and diversity. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Selby has written career-defining songs for artists in multiple genres and frequently contributes signature guitar work to 'Music City' recording sessions. As a solo artist he's earned critical acclaim and a devoted international following, carving out an earthy, gritty sound steeped in blues and rootsy rock. A native of Oklahoma, Selby earned a degree in guitar and music composition at Fort Hays University in Kansas. He landed a publishing contract soon after moving to Nashville in the 1990's, writing songs for major artists like Wynona Judd, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Roy Parnell and the Dixie Chicks, who scored a Grammy-winning number one hit with "There's Your Trouble," written by Selby and his wife and frequent collaborator, Tia Sillers. Selby may be best known for a string of #1 Mainstream Rock singles co-written with blues-rocker Kenny Wayne Shepherd, including "Blue On Black," which topped the chart for a record-setting 17 straight weeks and was named Billboard Magazine's Rock Track of the Year. In 2000, Selby signed with Vanguard Records as a solo artist. He produced his debut, More Storms Comin', with Brent Maher, setting the template for Selby recordings to come: passionate songwriting, soulful vocals and plenty of searing, toneful guitar work. The album launched the rock radio hit “She’s Like Mercury” and was followed by the critically-acclaimed 2003 release, Dirt, which Rolling Stone called an “exceptional sophomore CD,” and Vintage Guitar summed up as "11 of the best tracks of rock and roll we'll hear this year." American Songwriter proclaimed Selby “in the same league as Bruce Springsteen, with meaty words, a compelling voice, and tracks that have more groove than a vintage vinyl record.” Selby released a solo acoustic album, Mark Otis Selby…and the Horse He Rode In On (2006) for the German ZYX/Pepper Cake label, and returned with his band for Nine Pound Hammer (2008). Most recently, he released a live concert CD and DVD entitled One Night in Bonn (2009), recorded at the legendary German television concert series Rockpalast during his last European tour. Touring regularly over the past decade, Mark Selby has performed with everyone from Jeff Beck (2003 European tour) to B.B. King, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Collective Soul, Levon Helm and many others. He returns to Europe in May 2010 with his powerful three-piece blues-rock lineup (featuring Daryl Burgess, drums and 'Chopper' Anderson, bass) for a four-week run of festival and club dates. Upcoming American performances include the Guitar Town festival in Colorado in August 2010, which will feature Selby's band for the sixth straight year. Mark Otis Selby passed away Monday, September 18, 2017. He was a beloved recording artist, guitar player and songwriter based in Nashville, TN. Many of Mark's hits were written with his songwriter soulmate and wife Tia Sillers.