Mark Fain
Musician · East Tennessee
Best known for
Bass
Mark Fain is a seven-time Grammy-winning bluegrass bassist — a longtime member of Ricky Skaggs's Kentucky Thunder during the band's most awarded period, and currently a member of the John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band (J2B2) and a substitute player with the Grand Ole Opry house band.
- East Tennessee native. Raised in a musically inclined family; began studying bass at a young age.
- Earned a degree in double bass performance. Also plays drums and guitar.
- Joined Ricky Skaggs's Kentucky Thunder and anchored the band through its most decorated period — including the IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year wins of 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006.
- Seven-time Grammy winner as a member of Kentucky Thunder on albums including Bluegrass Rules! (1997, Grammy 1998), Ancient Tones (1999), Soldier of the Cross (2000), Brand New Strings (2004), Instrumentals (2006), and Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass (2008).
- Played on Ry Cooder / Ricky Skaggs / the Whites tour and record projects including the 2014 I Am Not Fine Man sessions with Joachim Cooder.
- Also session credits with Rosanne Cash, Chris Hillman, Jack Black, Lee Roy Parnell, and many others.
- Currently a core member of John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band (J2B2). Substitutes with the Grand Ole Opry house band.
- Featured in a 2024 Country Music Hall of Fame Musician Spotlight program.
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Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky ThunderPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder
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Darin and Brooke AldridgePlayed on recordings with Darin and Brooke Aldridge
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Paul BrewsterPlayed on recordings with Paul Brewster
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Ricky Skaggs and Bruce HornsbyPlayed on recordings with Ricky Skaggs and Bruce Hornsby
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Bobby HicksPlayed on recording with Bobby Hicks
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Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Ricky SkaggsPlayed on recording with Earl Scruggs, Doc Watson and Ricky Skaggs
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Marty RaybonPlayed on recording with Marty Raybon
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Ralph Stanley and FriendsPlayed on recording with Ralph Stanley and Friends
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Ricky Skaggs and FriendsPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs and Friends
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Ricky Skaggs and the WhitesPlayed on recording with Ricky Skaggs and the Whites