MARK CRANEY.What a drummer! Enjoy this iso rhythm track from ‘Brother to Brother’ GINO VANNELLI,79.

Mark was an extremely talented and gifted drummer and musician that grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and had the opportunity to work with a number of notable musicians. Among those names are Jean Luc Ponty, Tommy Bolin, Gino Vannelli, Jeff Beck, Dweezil Zappa, Caldera, The Mark-Almond Band, The Hughes-Thrall Band, Eddie Jobson and Jethro Tull. Diabetes and health problems had haunted him through the years, curtailing his musical excursion and forcing him to leave Jethro Tull. He did, however, manage to play with such musicians as Tower of Power and Eric Burdon, throughout his remaining years.

Despite Mark's heroic efforts to recover from complications of diabetes and kidney transplants, his weakened state and resistance to antibiotics were no match for pneumonia's tenacious grip. Mark passed away quietly in the early morning hours of November 26, 2005 at Sherman Village, a long-term care facility in Sherman Oaks, CA. On December 10, 2005, hundreds gathered to say goodbye to the sage of the skins at Sportsmen's Lodge in Studio City, California.

Mark was interred in a private ceremony on December 12, 2005 at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, California, near a lush rose garden which, quite fittingly, overlooks one of the recording studios in which Mark recorded tracks for Gino Vannelli's Brother to Brother album and other projects.

Upon hearing the news of Mark's passing, singer Ian Anderson posted a tribute on the Jethro Tull website, which read in part,

"Mark wrote the following words which I think might sum up his generosity of spirit, his love of his friends and music and above all, his strength, determination and optimism better than any epitaph I could write:

You all know how I feel
I'm very blessed
Life is a celebration
Thank you all
Expect good things
Make the Connection

…God Bless, Mark. Drum on, big man from South Dakota."

The Official Website for Mark Craney:
http://www.markcraney.org/index.htm

Diabetes awareness is crucial.