Mark Kreitzer

wail-9-22-2011-96_1Mark Kreitzer (guitar, banjo, fiddle, bass, mandolin, mandocello, mandola, Dobro, ukulele).  The Minnesota Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Association (MBOTMA) recognized Mark’s virtuosity by presenting him with its first Favorite Bluegrass Multi-Instrumentalist award.  Mark also is a member of the Clearwater Hot Club, Patty and the Buttons, and the Mill City Hot Club.  He often sits in with other local groups, including Becky Schlegel, The Platte Valley Boys, Twin Cities Hot Club, and the French 75.  He was a member of the Harmonious Wail and, as a long-time member of the Middle Spunk Creek Boys, was inducted into the Minnesota Rock and Country Hall of Fame.  Mark, a prolific songwriter and recipient of MBOTMA’s first Favorite Bluegrass Songwriter award, has recorded two CDs of his originals – “Pages” (solo CD) and “The Mark Kreitzer Band.”  A number of other bands have recorded his music, as well.  One of Mark’s most recent projects was writing the music and lyrics for the Minnesota Centennial Showboat musical, Mark Twain’s Mississippi, based on Twain’s book, Life on the Mississippi. Laurie Lewis captures Mark’s writing with a simple statement: “ This fellow has something to say.”  Mark is an educator, as well, currently teaching American Folk Instruments at Carleton College and songwriting and guitar at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul.