Mark Lyons was born in Los Angeles, California, in June of 1961. He grew up in various Los Angeles suburbs, where the first 8 years of his life were spent in Inglewood, California. The remaining years in the south eastern suburbs of Los Angeles.

Musical experiences began very early for Mark, being raised by a single parent who was also the neighborhood church pianist. Mark began singing in the church choir at age 12. Many after school hours were spent alone listening to '60's and '70's Motown and pop radio stations. Singing and playing various musical instruments in Glee Club through his Junior High school years provided a foundation and strong appreciation for music.

In High School, Mark shifted his artistic energies to drawing and painting. But at the beginning of his junior year, the only arts class left available was reserved for seniors only. Rather than following an Independent Study Program, Mark again reverted to music, taking Guitar classes, and winning his first award as "Best Classical Guitarist" after only one semester of study.

After high school, Mark spent a year playing in various Gospel/Rock and Roll bands until he enrolled in Cerritos College as a Music Major, where he learned the foundation of classical and pop theory and harmony. At Cerritos College, he also learned sight reading, and began playing in various big bands. It was also in college where Mark acquired an appreciation for the classics, and a broad range of musical styles, which he still enjoys today.

After college, Mark continued playing and studying for several years. While playing clubs and casuals Mark studied jazz improvisation, small combo playing and jazz theory under Dr. George Shaw and Frank Potenza (see http://www.Frankpotenza.com/welcome.html), while studding bass privately with Jan Moorhead, (currently at Berkley College of Music in Boston Mass.). At this time he also played in the Long Beach City College big band. The commercial music program and Long Beach City was exceptional, and while playing at LBCC Mark had the pleasure of playing with such greats as Michael Simbello, Dizzy Gillespie and  Vibraphonist legend, Lionel Hampton.

At about the same time, a young energetic bass player by the name of John Patatucci (Larry Carlton, Chick Corea electric Band and others) who was gigging locally and playing in many of the Gospel Rock bands that came through Calvary Chapel of Downey's weekly concerts series at the end of the Jesus Movement in the early '80's. In those early days Mark and John became acquaintances, and Mark studied periodically with with John.

Around the mid-'80's, Mark pulled back from many of his musical activities, and perused other vocational opportunities, becoming a Landscape Contractor, specializing in design. However, during this period, Mark recorded and played with numerous local Christian bands including the Brian Renick Band, Tom Davis Band, recorded on several recording projects at his church in Downey, and served as "Bass Consultant" for the '80's Christian rock band "The Edifiers". In addition, Mark continued to play at his church with the Calvary Chapel of Downey Sunday Morning Worship Band, and take other various gigs and small tours.

IN early 2000, Mark became active again, and began doing gigs primarily on the Riverside club circuit with the soul/jazz/blues band "A Little On The Side", and teaching from his home base in Downey/Bellflower, California. He also did volunteer work for the Calvary Chapel Christian School music department Jazz Band and Jazz Combo classes, as well as playing for numerous small theater groups. After relocating to Riverside, California, Mark moved back to Hollywood to attend BIT, and to teach and perform. In 2007 Nark moved to Hollywood to go through the program at Bass Institute of Technology at Musicians Institute, and to network and teach.

Currently, Mark is living in Hollywood, California, where he continues to teach and play in small clubs through-out the Southern California area.