Money Mark
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Mark Ramos-Nishita aka Money Mark is a producer and musician who has collaborated with the Beastie Boys many times. Most of his work is underground. He also appears on the first Banyan album as the Freeway Keyboardist. His first album, the relatively obscure "Mark's Keyboard Repair" (1995), was made up of keyboard driven pop-funk songs recorded at demo quality. It was followed up by the "Third Version EP" in 1996 and "Push the Button" in 1998.
Whereas his 1996 EP was similar to his debut, "Push the Button" was extremely eclectic, combining aspects of Rock music and Pop with Soul, Funk and Hip-Hop. This inventive LP was met with good reviews, as was his 2001 follow up "Change is Coming" which had a tropical yet danceable disco and funk sound.
His most notable contribution to popular music thus far might be the famous keyboard phrase that opens and underpins "Where It's At" from Beck's 1996 album, Odelay.
He also played keyboards on tour for the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet in support of their self-titled album, Omar Rodriguez. He has since become a full member of the quintet, appearing on the live EP with Damo Suzuki called Please Heat This Eventually and several other albums, with his debut full-length collaboration with the group being the Quintet's second LP release, The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange.
As of September 2006 Money Mark is signed to Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records label. Brand New By Tomorrow, his first album with Brushfire, was released in February 2007. He appears in the 2004 film Moog.
In addition Money Mark opened for Gnarls Barkley on 9/11/06 at the Riviera Theatre in Chicago.
In 2007, Money Mark and The Woodrow Jackson Orchestra recorded a cover version of Love Unlimited Orchestra's "Love's Theme" for Engine Room Recordings' compilation album Guilt by Association, set to be released this September.
Money Mark composed original music for the 2008 documentary film Beautiful Losers.
