About
Mark Fredrick Farner (born September 29, 1948) is an American musician. He was the original singer and guitarist of the rock band Grand Funk Railroad, which he co-founded in 1969, and later as a contemporary Christian musician.
Farner began his career in music by playing in Terry Knight and The Pack (1965–1966), The Bossmen (1966–1967), The Pack (aka The Fabulous Pack) (1967–1968), before forming Grand Funk Railroad with Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass guitar) in 1969. Farner attended Flint Kearsley High School. Craig Frost (keyboards) joined the band in 1972. Farner is of Cherokee descent on his maternal side.
Farner was the guitarist and lead singer for Grand Funk Railroad as well as the songwriter for most of their material. His best-known composition is the 1970 epic “I’m Your Captain (Closer to Home)”. Reaching #22 in October 1970 marked the group’s very first Top 40 single on the U.S. pop charts. While it was a modest success on Top 40 singles charts, the epic, 10-minute track was a massive, runaway hit on progressive rock radio stations. Driven by the massive airplay of the single, the parent album, also titled…
Born On This Day
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