Mark Stein (musician)

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Mark Stein
Stein performing at the Regent Theater in Arlington, Massachusetts on March 26, 2011
Stein performing at the Regent Theater in Arlington, Massachusetts on March 26, 2011
Background information
Also known asMark Stevens
Born (1947-03-11) March 11, 1947 (age 78)
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
GenresRock, psychedelic rock, hard rock
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, arranger
Instruments
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • accordion
  • guitar
Years active1958–present
Member ofVanilla Fudge
WebsiteMark Stein's official website

Mark Stein (born March 11, 1947) is an American keyboardist, composer and arranger, who is a member of the Psychedelic rock group Vanilla Fudge. Stein also worked in the Tommy Bolin band and Alice Cooper's band during 1978 and 1979. Stein is known for his use of the Hammond B-3 organ.[1] Stein has also guest appeared on stage with Deep Purple, Steve Miller Band and Carl Palmer.[1] Mark has worked prominently with Dave Mason since 1980 and currently tours in his backing band.[1]

Early life

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Stein was born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey. His uncle had an upright piano and used to watch him play, and sometimes played short one finger melodies when his uncle left the piano.[2] Stein's family saw he had a natural talent for the piano and started having lessons at age four and later attempted the accordion.[2]

Career

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1950s & 1960s

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Upon being exposed to rock and roll in the 1950s, Stein settled on the guitar. He worked his way through various bands in his high school. In 1958, aged eleven, his local band actually cut a record for a small New York label.[2] That same year, he appeared on television in Washington, D.C. on the same episode as Sam Cooke.[2] While at Bayonette High School he was in a band called The Charmers under the name "Mark Stevens".[2]

Stein formed Vanilla Fudge in 1967 with friend Tim Bogert, and Vince Martell and Carmine Appice. The bands debut album was released in August 1967 and is a Gold Record.[3] Their cover of The Supremes' You Keep Me Hangin' On is their most well known track. Vanilla Fudge has been cited as; "one of the few American links between psychedelia and what soon became heavy metal."[4]

1970s

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From 1970 to 1974, Stein was a member of Boomerang, a hard rock band based in New York.[5] Stein was joined by Jo Casmir on bass, James Galluzi on drums and Richard Ramirez on guitar.[5] They released two albums under RCA Boomerang (1971) and Two (1973).[5][6]

Stein met Tommy Bolin in February 1976 while Bolin was a member of Deep Purple, and became a member of the first incarnation of the Tommy Bolin Band.[7][8] Bolin died in December 1976, ended the band. In 1977, Stein auditioned to be the new keyboardist for Rainbow but lost to David Stone. Mark was in the Alice Cooper band from 1978 to 1979 and toured with him during his "Welcome To My Nightmare Tour.[1]

1980s to present

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He also worked with Dave Mason on the album "Old Crest on a New Wave, also writing a few songs and performing on the track "Save Me" which featured backing vocals from Michael Jackson.[2] In 1986, Stein and Carmine Appice took part in Hear 'n Aid, a heavy metal supergroup who recorded an album for charity, with its proceeds helping raise over $3 million for famine relief in Africa.[9]

Mark published the autobiography, You Keep Me Hangin’ On in 2011.[10] Stein released the solo album There's A Light was on November 26 2021.[11] During the pandemic of 2020, Mark wrote, recorded and released the single “We Are One”, a reflection on the Black Lives Matter movement.[12]

As of March 2023, Stein, Appice and Martell still continue to tour as Vanilla Fudge. Stein is a current touring member for Dave Mason.[13][1]

Influences

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Stein's keyboard playing was influenced by Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals, who also influenced Vanilla Fudge's style of playing of slow organ fueled rock.[14] His vocal influences include Dusty Springfield and Wilson Pickett.[14]

Stein himself influenced organist Jon Lord (1941-2012) of the band Deep Purple. Lord, in a 1989 interview said; "[he] used to listen to Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge in the late sixties. He was a useful source of tricks on the Hammond."[15][16]

Discography

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Vanilla Fudge

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Boomerang

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  • Boomerang (1971)
  • Two (1973)

Solo

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  • There’s A Light (2021)

Other

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Bibliography

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  • You Keep Me Hangin’ On (released 2011)

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Band: Mark Stein". Dave Mason - The Official Site. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "An Interview with Mark Stein of Vanilla Fudge". VWMusic. 2021-11-16. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  3. ^ "Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  4. ^ "Vanilla Fudge Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  5. ^ a b c "Boomerang (USA) - discography, line-up, biography, interviews, photos". www.spirit-of-metal.com. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  6. ^ "Boomerang featuring Mark Stein". The Vinyl Press. 2019-10-29. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  7. ^ "INTERVIEWS | Mark Stein". www.tommybolinofficial.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  8. ^ "Bolin Story". www.thehighwaystar.com. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  9. ^ Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 416. CN 5585.
  10. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (12 May 2022). "Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein stays true to himself with solo album". Goldmine Magazine: Record Collector & Music Memorabilia. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  11. ^ MetalTalk (2021-10-14). "Vanilla Fudge / Mark Stein to release first solo album; Watch There's A Light | MetalTalk". MetalTalk | We are MetalTalk and we publish Rock 'n Roll. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  12. ^ "Mark Stein". NAMM.org. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  13. ^ "History". Dave Mason - The Official Site. Retrieved 2025-07-17.
  14. ^ a b "Mark Stein talks the lasting legacy of Vanilla Fudge (2012)". Music N' Other Drugs. 2018-05-03. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
  15. ^ Lalaina, Joe; Transcribed by David Yea (January 1989). "Jon Lord Interviews". The Highway Star. Modern Keyboard Magazine. Retrieved 16 February 2012.
  16. ^ "Ritchie Blackmore, Interviews". www.thehighwaystar.com. Retrieved 2022-09-16.
  17. ^ a b c "Mark Stein Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More ..." AllMusic. Retrieved 2025-07-10.
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