Songwriter: Selby has written more than 10 top-40 singles and 4 #1 hits, including the Dixie Chicks' Grammy-winning There's Your Trouble and Kenny Wayne Shepherd's Blue On Black -- Billboard magazine's1998 Rock Track of the Year. Wynona, Trisha Yearwood, Lee Roy Parnell & Keb Mo, JoDee Messina and many others have recorded Selby's songs.

Recording Artist: Selby's new Nine Pound Hammer CD on the ZYX label is garnering critical raves in Europe and will be released in the U.S. in summer 2008. He has released two internationally acclaimed blues/rock albums for Vanguard Records -- More Storms Comin' (2000) and Dirt (2003) and contributed to the Grammy-nominated Avalon Blues: A Tribute to Mississippi John Hurt (2001). His single She's Like Mercury was the first charting rock single for the Vanguard label. A solo acoustic CD, Mark Otis Selby...And The Horse He Rode In On was released in 2006. His discography as a session musician includes recent releases by Kenny Rogers, Wynona, Jamie O'Hara, Ronnie Milsap, Johnny Reid, and the Keni Thomas album Flags of our Fathers, which Selby co-produced with Brent Maher.

Live Performer: A virtuoso guitarist and dynamic live artist, Mark Selby has shared the stage with B.B. King, Jeff Beck, John Mayer, Robert Cray, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Delbert McLinton, John Hiatt, the Fabulous Thunderbirds, Collective Soul, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Levon Helm, Junior Brown, and many more. Selby has appeared on notable radio and television music programming including World Cafe, Mountain Stage, and Woodsongs, and continues to perform with his stellar backup band, as an acoustic solo artist, and in a duo with his wife and frequent collaborator, Tia Sillers.
 

 “As a singer/songwriter, Mark Selby’s in the same league as Bruce Springsteen, with meaty words, a compelling voice, and tracks that have more groove than a vintage vinyl record."
                ---AMERICAN SONGWRITER

"An electrifying performer."
              ----BLUES REVUE

"Selby earned his moment in the spotlight with his excellent debut, More Storms Comin'...his exceptional sophomore CD, Dirt, indicates that album was no fluke. No need for bells and whistles here -- the music does the talking."
             ----ROLLING STONE

"Mark Selby makes some of the most soulful noise coming out of Nashville."
            ----THE TENNESSEAN

"Simply put, 11 tracks of the best rock and roll we'll hear this year..."
            ----VINTAGE GUITAR

MARK SELBY – NINE POUND HAMMER

   In the summer of 2007, Mark Selby packed up his favorite guitar, his writing notebook and a satchel full of classic blues and rock music that had influenced him in his formative years. The Oklahoma-born musician locked the door to his Nashville home and headed west, to the tall peaks and wide open spaces of Colorado. It was time to write some new songs, time to make a new CD, and the man knew exactly what he wanted: a record that hit like a Nine Pound Hammer.

   Selby pledged not to come ‘down from the mountain’ until he had the perfect mix of songs he needed for his new project, music that could contain all the explosive energy of his live shows, the telepathic interplay of his exceptional band, and the high level of songcraft and artistry he’s built a reputation on. Known as a songwriter who can deliver career-propelling hits for other artists (The Dixie Chicks’ Grammy-winning “There’s Your Trouble” and Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s rock smash “Blue On Black” to name a few), he’s also garnered international acclaim for his own releases on the Vanguard and ZYX/Pepper Cake labels: “Selby earned his moment in the spotlight with his critically lauded debut, More Storms Comin’ . . .his exceptional sophomore CD Dirt indicates that album was no fluke” (Rolling Stone); “a truly remarkable piece of work. . .with Dirt Selby comes knocking on the door of the best blues guitarists” (Discover Music, Germany).

   Selby settled in to write at his mountain hideaway, only leaving for festival bookings and the occasional recording session back in Music City. He had a ‘secret weapon’ with him -- his wife and collaborator, the award-winning songwriter Tia Sillers. “There’s nothing better as a songwriter than to write for an entire project” says TIa, “especially with an artist who has a vision that you can tap into and share in.” Mark had a clear picture for the new CD: “After three albums and a lot of touring, I’ve really developed a great give-and-take relationship with my audience. I had a real sense that the record I wanted to make was also exactly what the people who buy my CDs and come to my shows want to hear from me right now: something powerful that takes us on a big, fun ride, that still has a sense of depth and some art to it. Basically, the same things I shoot for in a live show: excitement, artistry, entertainment, musicianship, tension and repose – all leading to that beautiful exchange of pure energy between audience and performer.” Throughout the summer, thunderous riffs and soaring melodies bounced around the mountains; by the end of August, Mark and Tia came down from the high country with an armful of righteous new songs.

   The band roared into The Blue Room studio in Nashville hitting on all cylinders, knocking out all twelve tracks in the first week of October, 2007. Several of the final mixes are exactly what went down on the original take – ‘live’ in the studio, no overdubs. Mark spent additional days adding more of his patented searing guitar work (and some tasty harmonica) to some songs, and Nashville super-vocalist Tania Hancheroff pitched in with sassy soul-sister backing vocals, but it all happened fast. “When the mixing was done and the dust had settled, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe we were already done – or how great we felt about this record,” says Mark. “This project is literally everything I had hoped for and envisioned – and I’m not an easy man to please. I’m thrilled that we were able to capture this band in all it’s power and glory – and trust me, even though my name and picture are on the cover, this is a band record. It was truly a pleasure to make, and I’m really happy with the songs, the sound, everything.” Brent Maher adds, “I don’t know how he does it, but each record I’ve done with Mark is on a different level than the previous – and this is the best one yet!”

   “The best one yet” is quite a complement considering the praise for Selby’s earlier work -- Vintage Guitar described Dirt as “simply put, 11 of the best cuts of rock & roll you’ll hear this year.” But Nine Pound Hammer delivers on all levels, from scorching rockers like the title cut, Dangerous Game and Leveler Reveler, to the sexy soul and guitar magic of Baby I Do; from the lowdown blues of Sure Hope It Ain’t A Train to funky groove workouts like I Should Know Better and I Stole Your Love. There’s the gritty storytelling of Buck-Fifty & A Flat-Head Ford, the sounds-like-a-classic A Good Friend To The Blues, and plenty more, all leading to the magnificent, soaring closing track: Guitar in the Rain – undoubtedly the most powerful, passionate performance of Mark Selby’s career.

   He’s been hailed as an “electrifying performer” (Blues Review), shared the stage with musical heroes like Jeff Beck and BB King, and is frequently compared to his idols: “Mark Selby’s in the same league with Bruce Springsteen. . .” (American Songwriter). With Nine Pound Hammer, Mark Selby delivers a hard-hitting forged-in-steel document of an artist hitting his stride, with songs made to be played and a red-hot band to play ‘em. As the man said earlier: “It’s a big, fun ride.”

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