MUSIC HISTORY

Mark was born in Melbourne, Australia and in 1970 he lived in New York City (just off Broadway) for a year with his mother Pearl and step-father Sydney Goldman, who for many years was the Vice-President of the American entertainment institution Radio City Music Hall. Mark now lives in Melbourne with his wife Rachel and two children, Carly and Adam. He retired from the band circuit in 1997 to spend more time with his growing family.

During Mark's stay in New York City he got to meet and socially mix with such interesting people as Sophia Loren, Gregory Peck, Don Adams, Ed Sullivan, Neil Sedaka, Mike Stoller and many others. Some photographs of these encounters are to be found on the Famous Friends page on this site.

"I played lead and rhythm guitar and managed and did the music arrangements for bands for 29 years, starting in 1969. I started off playing the pub circuit and was very proud to end up in the band Park Avenue playing the Australian Hyatt/Hilton circuit - this required optimum/flawless performances. I made many wonderful friends and this involvement proved to me that music really is the international language".

A chronology of Marks involvement in the music world follows:

1971 to 1976 - Crimson Ink [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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"My first band consisted of Rodney (bass & vocals), Kay (drums), Stephen (rhythm guitar) and me (lead guitar). We weren't too bad but we never got out of the garage!"

"This artistic shot of my second band was taken by my old friend Andrew Wittner, who has also shot AC/DC! Greg and I are still close friends after 35 years. I see Rowan with Greg, once in awhile. It's great how music brings people together".

Left to right : Rowan McDowell, Graham Eddie, Greg Coles, Bill Bush, Mark Copolov.

1982 to 1984 - Frenz [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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Dennis Cramp and I worked together for 18 years. We were like chalk and cheese, but you could put us in separate rooms and we'd know what the other was going to do on the next beat/note.

Left to right : Mark Copolov, Dennis Cramp, Bill Bradley & Graham Eddie.

1985 to 1987 - Reverend Blues [Co-music producer]


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"John Santos and I formed this band as a spin-off of John's "Grand Wazoo" band, which will, as this is written, celebrate it's 25th. Year next week, June 2006. What a thrill for me to be working with some of Australia's top musicians. We performed on Hey Hey It's Saturday (local TV show) a few times which was lots of fun and interesting. Some famous members include :

Chong Lim (two places to my left). Chong has been John Farnham's Music Director and pianist for many years. Chong is also the Music Director (MD) on Dancing With The Stars and was the Music Director for the recent Commonwealth Games. What a legend!
Steve Williams (back row, 3rd from the right). Steve has also been with John Farnham's band for years. Not only a great sax player but in my opinion he's also one of the world's greatest harp/harmonica players.
John Santos (back row, 4th from the right). The brains behind Grand Wazoo and Reverend Blues. John arranges EVERY instrument in his bands and is known internationally as an arranger.
Graham Davidge (second back row, far right). What a guitarist. He's played in Goanna and with LRB . When he plays the blues, it's hard to tell his playing from that of BB King! There was no way I was going to play guitar around Graham!!
Olga Binios (in front of me, next to the drummer). The late and great Olga Binios who lacked self-confidence so much that I had to just about push her onto the stage to sing and yet she could do the most amazing calisthenics with her voice in the high range. In 25 years, I'd never worked with a singer with such feeling and range in her voice. She was a lovely person too. R.I.P. Olga".

September 1985 - Reverend Blues album cover


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 This is the only time I've been acknowledged on an album cover (even though I've recorded in recording studios quite a few times). It's the back of our Reverend Blues album, which we recorded over a few days, in a studio in Richmond (suburb of Melbourne, Australia).

1990 to 1991 - Park Avenue (i) [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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The original band - From left/rear : Andrew Kay (piano), Dennis Cramp (drums & lead vocals), Front : Ian Amor (bass & vocals), Mark Copolov (guitar), Colin (sax & vocals).

"Playing with Andrew was a thrill - he was the greatest rock and roll pianist I've heard in Australia. He even backed up Chuck Berry on tour. Colin played sax and Ian played bass.

March 1992 - Mark on stage with Australian music pioneer and singer, Col Joy.


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 This was taken at a wedding in the western suburbs of Melbourne. Col was a guest but we asked him to join us for a number and he obliged!

1992 to 1993 - Park Avenue (ii) [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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From left/rear : Dennis Cramp (drums & lead vocals), Danielle Glass (keyboards & backing vocals),
Front : Steve Muzzin (bass & backing vocals), Debbie Craven (lead vocals) & Mark (guitar).

Steve and I were both long time friends and are both Beatle 'nuts'. Steve could play any instrument you threw at him. Debbie sang like a bird. Danielle could play perfectly on the piano, the first time, any piece of sheet music put in front of her, sight unseen.

With this band, we reached my long time goal of regularly playing the Hilton/Hyatt circuit. It took many years of blood, sweat, tears, line up changes and rehearsals to get to that level, but it was very fulfilling once we reached it.

1994 - Park Avenue (iii) [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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From left : Dennis Cramp (drums & lead vocals), Leigh Gordon-Brown (bass &
backing vocals), Valerie Ashton (lead vocals), Mark Copolov (guitar), Rhonda Gordon-Brown (keyboards & backing vocals).

Rhonda and Lee are now married. Lee is a living hero. He was awarded Australia's highest bravery award on 14.12.2005, in recognition of his action disarming a deranged killer who murdered two students in Lee's class. Refer http://www.monash.edu.au/news/newsline/story/720 for details..

1995 - Park Avenue (iv) [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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From left : Mark Copolov (guitar), Dennis Cramp (drums & lead vocals),
Rhonda Gordon-Brown (keyboards & backing vocals), Nadia Andary (lead vocals), Lee Gordon-Brown (bass & backing vocals)).

With this band, we played the Hyatt/Hilton circuit.

Feb 1995 - Park Avenue (v)


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 Mark at work at Dane Studios (Brunswick, Melbourne), laying down guitar overdubs for Park Avenue songs, for a demo tape which was sent out to music agents to hopefully get some more work.

1996 - Park Avenue (vi) [Lead guitar, music arranger and manager]


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From left : Dennis Cramp (drums & lead vocals), Joe Puglisi (bass), Leslie
(keyboard & lead vocals), Mark Copolov (guitar).


Acknowledgements
Although there are no photographs of Mark with them, Mark would like to acknowledge some of the many terrific musicians that he's worked with over the years. These include :
Sally Gleitman, Harry Gleitman, Harry Bryce, Mirrie Moore, Nathan Slovo, Neil Taylor, Doug Foley, Frank Morgan & Maurice Sillman.

Mark would also like to acknowledge the help of his old friend, Sean Meltzer, who was a very competent roadie during the Crimson Ink era.

Technical note
"I started off using a red Fender Mustang Guitar and since 1976 I use a Fender Stratocaster guitar which my parents surprised me with on my 21st. birthday. I always used medium to light strings (Daddario) and thin Fender tortoise shell plectrums. I have used a variety of amplifiers over the years but none come close to the sound and feel of the Fender Twin Reverb valve amplifier that I used in the 1970s".

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