Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

United Kingdom

Birth

:

August 12, 1949 in Glasgow, Scotland

Genre

:

Film

 

Mark Knopfler is a British musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the rock band Dire Straits. He was born on August 12, 1949, in Glasgow, Scotland, and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Knopfler's father was an architect and his mother was a teacher. He was raised in a musical family and began playing the guitar at the age of seven. He was influenced by a wide range of music, including rock and roll, blues, jazz, and folk. He attended the University of Leeds, where he studied English literature and philosophy. In the early 1970s, Knopfler moved to London and began playing in various bands. He worked as a journalist for a time, writing for the Yorkshire Evening Post and the Luton News. In 1977, he formed Dire Straits with his brother David Knopfler, bassist John Illsley, and drummer Pick Withers. Dire Straits released their self-titled debut album in 1978, which included the hit single "Sultans of Swing." The album was a critical and commercial success, and established the band as one of the leading acts of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Their follow-up albums, Communiqué (1979), Making Movies (1980), and Love Over Gold (1982), were also successful, and featured Knopfler's distinctive guitar playing and songwriting. Knopfler's solo career began in 1983 with the release of his first album, Golden Heart. The album featured a more acoustic sound than his work with Dire Straits, and included collaborations with musicians such as Chet Atkins and Van Morrison. He continued to release solo albums throughout the 1980s and 1990s, including Local Hero (1983), Cal (1984), The Princess Bride (1987), and Sailing to Philadelphia (2000). In addition to his work as a musician, Knopfler has also composed music for films and television. He wrote the score for the 1983 film Local Hero, and has contributed music to several other films, including The Princess Bride (1987), Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), and Wag the Dog (1997). He has also composed music for television shows, including the theme for the BBC series The Long Goodbye (1992). Knopfler's music is characterized by his distinctive fingerpicking style on the guitar, as well as his storytelling lyrics and use of a wide range of musical influences. He has been praised for his ability to blend different genres of music, and for his skill as a guitarist and songwriter. Knopfler has received numerous awards and honors throughout his career, including four Grammy Awards, an Ivor Novello Award, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Dire Straits in 2018. He continues to perform and record music, and remains one of the most respected and influential musicians of his generation.

More....