Born February 12th, 1960 in Jonesboro, Arkansas, saxophonist Mark Douthit attended Middle Tennessee State University and the Cincinnatti Conservatory. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in jazz studies from University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1984, and studied with renowned jazz educator Jerry Coker.
Mark has recorded with many artists such as Lionel Richie, Elton John, Amy Grant, Billy Joel, Vanessa Williams, Garth Brooks, Michael W. Smith, Toby Keith, Hank Williams Jr., Whitney Houston, Billy Ray Cyrus, Michael McDonald, The Neville Brothers, Peter Cetera, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Donny Osmond, Patty Loveless, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna Judd, Point of Grace, Steven Curtis Chapman, Tommy Sims, Brenda Lee, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Larnelle Harris, The Imperials, Bob Carlisle, Bryan Duncan, David Foster, Bryan White, Keith Thomas, Michael Omartian, Ben Folds, Yolanda Adams, Larry Carlton, and many others.
He has performed with Michael McDonald, Toto, Toni Braxton, India Arie, James Ingram, Peter Cox (of Go West), Edwin McCain, Marc Cohn, Christopher Cross, Don Henley, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Natalie Cole, Michael W. Smith, The Imperials, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Peter Cetera, Michael Omartian, Larry Carlton, John Scofield, Take 6, Bob Carlisle, David Pack, Billy Ray Cyrus, Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Carman, Patti LaBelle, Billy Preston, Gino Vannelli, Delbert McClinton, Donna Summer, and many others.
Mark has worked on major motion picture soundtracks as well as national radio and television commercials. He also did the sax work for CNN and Headline News for many years. Mark performed in the house band for TV variety show Prime Time Country (TNN) for three and a half years.
In 1997, Mark won the Instrumental Album of the Year Dove Award for The Players. In 2002, he released a solo album entitled Groove on Hillsboro Records followed by December Morning on Green Hill Records in 2006.
He toured with Grammy Award winning jazz guitarist Larry Carlton from 2002 to 2008 and with Grammy Award winning artists Vince Gill and Amy Grant from 2006 to 2010. Recently, Mark has been touring with Michael McDonald.
