Mark Willis – A Tribute

Deaf Fret would like to introduce you to a remarkable talent who is, sadly, no longer with us.

I met Mark around 2015 and, despite his significant struggles, his playfulness, humour and talent were still vividly apparent and it was my pleasure – and honour – to bring some of his ideas to life and to be told off when I got it wrong!

I have been prone to saying, having met him later in his life, that I didn’t get enough of Mark. But as time has passed and I’ve been introduced to his family and friends, that feeling has developed into gratitude for what he did give me.

I would love to have met Mark when we were both young men – I think we would have gotten into a lot of trouble together and laughed until it hurt. But, somewhere, somehow, it feels like we are both doing that.

Such is Mark – one of the most golden people I have ever encountered and I am blessed to have met him at any point on my life.

His songs were all recorded before his injury and are old and bumpy lo-fi casual live recordings but that voice is impossible to hide behind old technology.

That talent just glows.

Ross Merrin

Mark, from the person who knew him best; the friend I’ve gained, his Mum, Bev

Mark Denver Chambers-Willis

Mark was born on March 22nd, 1966 and was raised in north London by his single Mum, Bev Willis. He had two sisters and was the middle child.

Mark would make music and sing wherever he could from a very young age – I thought it was just child’s play but never-the-less bought him his first guitar for a birthday present.

MARK WAS OFF!

He had some favourite soul singers, musicians and bands, ones he admired and loved such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Donny Hathaway as well as some selected guitarists, especially Level 42.

Mark was also very comedic – at 9 years old he did a monologue from Charles Dickens’ “Scrouge”, in the school’s play and many of his peers remember this 60 years later.

Other singers and musicians who came into contact with Mark and his music felt he was a very gifted musician. Mark often said he wanted to enjoy his music before it became commercialised.

Mark used his music and his voice to sing and entertain on the London Underground. It was on one of these outings that he was noticed by the BBC, ending up playing a musician in the film ‘Janna, Where Are You?’

A quote credited to Sting – ‘If you play music with love, passion and honesty, then it will nourish your soul and heal your wounds and make your life worth living’.

Mark could be credited for doing just this.

Mark became disabled in 1991 due to a head injury but he gave us some lovely music.