Mark
Freuder Knopfler, OBE, D.Mus (born August 12, 1949, Glasgow,
Scotland) is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His vocal style is best
described by the German phrase Sprechgesang — not quite
singing, not quite speaking. His use of guitar has been compared to adding
another 'voice' to his songs.
He is
best-known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band Dire Straits,
but has also made albums as a solo performer and played in other groups
(such as The Notting Hillbillies). Additionally, he has performed on the
work of other artists, including Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Steely Dan and
the late Chet Atkins (in Neck & Neck). He has produced albums for
artists such as Tina Turner, Randy Newman, Bob Dylan and Emmylou Harris. In
addition, he has scored the music to several films, including Local Hero,
The Princess Bride, Cal, Last Exit to Brooklyn and Wag
the Dog.
He is
widely regarded as one of the best fingerstyle guitarists of the modern
era. Knopfler was ranked #27 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of
"100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
Mark
Knopfler is noted for being left-handed, but playing right-handed, and for
fingerpicking (using a personal variant of the "claw-hammer")
style instead of using a plectrum (i.e., "pick"); fingerpicking
is usually associated with the acoustic guitar, but Knopfler usually
(though not always) plays an electric guitar.
Knopfler
was a guitar hero of the 80's and played some of the decade's definitive
riffs/solos. Mark's tone evolved from the simple and clean (or slightly
overdriven) guitar sound of the Straits' first two albums to the
"rocky" overdriven sounds on Brothers In Arms and on to the warm
tube sounds on his solo albums.
