Mark Shepard is not easy to sum up in a few pithy “bio” lines.
A self described “compulsive songwriter” since 1976, he has penned over 500 tunes, released 18 CD’s and earned his credentials as a certified Master Practitioner and Trainer of NLP, Hypnosis and Time Line Therapy.
- He is the world’s record holder for “Fastest Song” for Writing, recording and airing “Adventure Gurl” on National radio within 24 hours.
- One of his Songs, “Together We Can Change The World” has earned a “Posi Award”, and is being sung literally around the world by Girl Scouts, school choruses and little kids at home for their proud parents video cameras. Combined views on YouTube is just about at 1 million.
- He’s written the music and lyrics for 2 children’s musicals, “Letters To Daddy” and “BeautyFull” both of which were featured at the NY Musical Theater Festival
But the key thing about Mark Shepard is that early on he struggled with shyness, social anxiety, stage fright, and various other forms of self sabotage, resulting in the inability to effectively “get the music OUT” into the world in any significant way.
That caused him to look at himself long and hard in the mirror and realize that he had to work on himself to change his attitudes and beliefs as well as improve his failing health.
So he began to fiercely study and practice Barbara Brennon Energy Healing, Ericksonian Hypnosis, Neuro Linguistic Programming and other Transformation tools, techniques and modalities. Since 2003 he has worked with clients all over the world on everything from smoking cessation, weight loss, anxiety, phobias, habits, as well as peak performance coaching with CEO’s, athletes and performers.
Having children in his early 20’s led to writing kid songs and adding storytelling and drumming to his performance toolkit… which led to his DrumSongStory multi-cultural assemblies for schools.
More recently he was a part of the Unity Church In Albany music team which opened up a place for his “Spiritual but not religious” songs.
Lately he’s been traveling the country with his “Bully Proof Teen” and “How To Get High Without Drugs or Alcohol” Assemblies a for Middle Schools and High Schools. His music creates a bridge between his young audiences which allows his message to get through the “noise” of our modern culture…
The result after 40 years of songwriting and 30 years of intense self development aimed at finding a way to USE those songs to make a positive difference, is that his message and his music are now combined in a congruent, sustainable way.
And oh yeah, he also paints vivid abstract acrylics, carves huge drums out of logs, is an avid gardener, nature lover, tree hugger and bird watcher…
You can check out his Music at MarkShepard.Bandcamp.com and all his other stuff at MarkShepard.com