What is Mark Farner Net Worth?
Mark Farner is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who has a net worth of $6 million. Mark Farner is best known as the lead guitarist, lead vocalist, and principal songwriter of Grand Funk Railroad, one of America's most successful rock bands of the 1970s. In 1969, Farner formed Grand Funk Railroad with drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher. The band quickly gained popularity through relentless touring and their high-energy live performances. Despite often being dismissed by critics, Grand Funk became one of rock's most commercially successful acts, selling out arenas including a record-breaking 1971 show at New York's Shea Stadium, where they sold out faster than the Beatles.
As the band's primary creative force, Farner wrote many of Grand Funk's biggest hits, including "I'm Your Captain (Closer to Home)," "Some Kind of Wonderful," and "Bad Time." His distinctive guitar work and powerful vocals became hallmarks of the band's sound. Under his leadership, Grand Funk Railroad achieved 13 gold and 10 platinum records between 1969 and 1976.
The band's original run ended in 1976, though they would reunite several times in different configurations. During this period, Farner launched a solo career, releasing several albums that showcased both his rock roots and his growing interest in Christian music. His 1977 solo debut "Mark Farner" demonstrated his continued songwriting abilities, though it didn't achieve the commercial success of his Grand Funk work.
Early Years
Mark Frederick Farner was born in Flint, Michigan, on September 29, 1948. His mother, Betty, was descended from the Cherokee tribe and was an accomplished singer. His father, Delton Farner, had been a tank driver in the Seventh Armored Division during WWII and had a talent for guitar. Mark attended Flint Kearsley High School and began his career in music in 1965 as a member of the rock band Terry Knight and The Pack.
Grand Funk Railroad
With Don Brewer and Mel Schacher, Mark Farner founded the rock band Grand Funk Railroad in Flint, Michigan, in 1969. Farner played guitar, keyboards, and harmonica and sang lead vocals. Brewer played drums and sang vocals, while Schacher played bass. As a new trio, they agreed to play for free at the 1969 Atlanta International Pop Festival. The tens of thousands of people in the audience enjoyed their music so much that they were invited to perform for the remaining two days of the festival. Not long after their music was introduced on such a large scale, they were signed to American record label Capitol Records. The following year, they were a featured band at the Atlanta International Pop Festival.
Between 1969 and 1976, Grand Funk Railroad released six albums that went platinum and seven that were certified gold. With hit songs such as "We're An American Band"—their first single to reach the top of the Billboard charts—the band toured extensively and drew massive audiences. In 1971, they sold out Shea Stadium in New York City within 72 hours.
In 1972, the band decided to fire their manager, Terry Knight, three months before his contract was up due to being at odds with his management style and what they believed to be financial irresponsibility. Knight retaliated by filing a suit against the band for breach of contract and having the band's equipment repossessed. A two-year court battle ensued, and Knight emerged as the victor, walking away with the publisher's royalties and copyrights to every recording the band produced between March 1969 and March 1972. What the band was allowed to retain was the name Grand Funk Railroad.
In 1972, the band added American musician Craig Frost on keyboards. Later that year, they released the album "Phoenix" and temporarily shortened their name to Grand Funk. In 1974, they released the album"All The Girls In The World Beware!!!" which spawned the top-ten song "Some Kind of Wonderful." Despite continued success, the band members were becoming divisive over personal and professional issues. Eager to fulfill their contract with Capitol Records and go their own ways, they released a double live album called "Caught in the Act" in 1975. Capitol Records didn" believe the album met the agreement as it contained previously released material. The band, therefore, released the album "Born To Die" in 1976 before splitting from Capitol Records and drifting away from each other. However, American musician Frank Zappa announced that he was interested in producing an album for the band. In August of that year, "Good Singin', Good Playin"" was released by American record label MCA Records. The band was disappointed with the album's level of success, and Farner later claimed that Brewer said he was done with the band, left, and slammed the door – resulting in the breakup of Grand Funk Railroad.
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Going Solo
After the breakup of Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Farner signed with Atlantic Records as a solo artist. His self-titled album was released in 1977, followed by the album "No Frills" in 1978. The other members of the defunct group formed a band they named Flint. In 1981, Farner and Brewer reunited and released the studio album "Grand Funk Lives" with Dennis Bellinger on bass and vocals and Lance Ong on keyboards and synthesizer. The album included the song "Queen Bee," which appeared on the soundtrack of that year's animated film, "Heavy Metal." Released on Full Moon Records, the album reached number 149 on the Billboard chart. In 1983, Farner partnered with Bellinger, Brewer, Gary Lyons, and Cliff Davies to produce another Grand Funk Railroad album – "What's Funk?" All the songs on the album, except for two covers, were written and composed by Farner. The group split again after the album's release, which didn't meet their sales expectations.
On Stage with Ringo Starr
In 1995, Mark Farner joined the live-rock group Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band on guitar, harmonica, and vocals. The following year, Farner reconnected with Schacher and Brewer once again and set out on tour with Howard Eddy Jr. on keyboard, guitar, and background vocals. The reincarnated Grand Funk Railroad performed at three sold-out benefit concerts in Bosnia and released a double compact disc called "Bosnia." In 1998, Farner left the band due to disagreements with Brewer. Two years later, Brewer and Schacher contacted Farner to suggest another reunion. Farner was willing, but not for the one-third he had been paid before. He wanted half of the band's profit, explaining that he did the most work onstage. His two former bandmates turned down the offer and rebuilt the band with lead vocalist Max Carl, guitarist Bruce Kulick, and keyboard player Tim Cushion.
Farner then set out as Mark Farner's American Band and was unsuccessfully sued by his former bandmates to prevent him from using the name. The men brought several additional lawsuits against Farner over the years concerning the use of the name Grand Funk Railroad in promotional matters.
Life Story
Kristofer Engelhardt wrote an authorized biography of Mark Farner's life, "From Grand Funk to Grace," which was published in 2001. The book recounts the major and minor incidents in Farne"s life and shares his opinions on everything from our founding fathers to today's music moguls.
Accolades
In 1999, members of the Lakota Nation held a presentation in which they honored Mark Farner's Native American ancestry by presenting him with a handmade ceremonial quilt.
In 2005, Grand Funk Railroad was voted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. Ten years later, Farner was given the honor as a solo artist.
Religion
Mark Farner became a born-again Christian in the 1980s and released a single called "Isn't it Amazing?" The song reached number two on the Contemporary Christian music chart and earned him a nomination from the Gospel Music Association for a Dove Award.
Personal Life
In 2004, Mark Farner began suffering from a heart-related ailment. On October 22, 2012, after experiencing a heart attack, he had a pacemaker placed in his chest.
He has been married to his wife, Lesia, for over 30 years. On July 4, 2018, their 29-year-old son Jesse died after suffering paralysis and other health issues for nearly ten years following a fall that injured his spinal cord.
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