Mark Langford is a classically trained guitarist-turned-entrepreneur whose sound-engineering credits include Mother Teresa (yes, THAT Mother Teresa) and whose tour support credits include the late John Entwistle (the Who) and Steve Howe of Yes. “I have 40 years of pro-level experience. When the recession hit and things slowed down, I said, What am I gonna do?” In summer 2001, his wife Darlene encouraged him to make the Rock and Roll San Diego School of Music and Recording Arts a reality, operating in the sane building as her own six-person sewing shop housed behind Soma on Sports Arena Boulevard.
With students averaging age eight to twelve, the campus recording studio was tiny but well-equipped. The business offered private lessons, 6-week and 12-week group classes, and summer camps. Once set up, the 8000-square-foot facility included a photo studio, a record label, a music publishing company, and a booking agency, as well as practice rooms, a kitchen, showers, musicians’ lounge, and a weight room.
His 2023 album A Passage contains musical interpretations of sixteen Irish poems, most of them from the 19th century. Guest bassist John Avila (Oingo Boingo) recorded the album at his San Gabriel studio, with additional guest musicians such as guitarists Greg Douglass (Steve Miller Band) and Johnny Vernazza (Elvin Bishop Group), and drummer Larry Grano (Richie Furay).