MARK GUTIERREZ, a Los Angeles native is a multi-talented guitarist well versed in many styles of music including Jazz, Classical, Blues, Rock, Latin, and Flamenco. This versatility finds him in many different musical situations whether it be on stage performing with his group, other groups, solo, or in the studio. He also doubles on piano and vocals.
He received his formal musical training at the California State University of Los Angeles where he graduated with a B.A. and a M.A., majoring in Jazz and Classical performance. While in College, he was awarded 2nd place at the American String Teachers Association solo Classical guitar recital-competition. He was also awarded the Most Oustanding Guitarist at the Pacific Coast Collegiate Jazz Festival and was awarded for Outstanding Musicianship as an arranger.
Mark currently has three cds released: “Spanish Nights”, which features latin and flamenco styles, “I’ll Just Groove”, which features jazz, funk, rock, and pop styles, and "That's So Cool", which features latin, jazz, and pop styles. All of the songs on the cds are his original compositions.
Mark has performed and/or recorded with many of L.A.’s top Latin and Jazz artists including Justo Almario, Banda Brothers, Johnny Blas, Oskar Cartaya, Yve Evans, Germaine Franco, Richie Garcia, Susie Hansen, Marcos Loya, Bobby Matos, Opa Opa, Peggie Perkins, Johnny Polanco, Juan Carlos Quintero, Bobby Rodriguez, Swing Kings, Luis Villegas, and Stan Watkins. He has also performed with The Johnny Crawford Orchestra, Jerry Rivera, Trini Lopez, Joan Sebastian, Joe Bataan, The Crystals and was the guitarist in the school program entitled “Music: the Universal Language” sponsored by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra.
His original music was heard in the feature film "Bachelorette" starring Kirsten Dunst, tv shows "NCIS", "All My Children", “The Sopranos”, “One Life to Live”, “The Young and the Restless” and he was seen on MTV’s “Till Death Do Us Part” performing his own music. Mark has also written and recorded music for Miller beer and Budweiser commercials.
In Theater, Mark played guitar in the East Los Angeles Classic Theater’s production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night”. On screen he appeared in the Warner Brothers movie “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” as a member of the Mambo band. On television he appeared in “Seventh Heaven” and “For Your Love”.
Teaching credits include guitar instruction at the Plaza de la Raza summer workshops and classes at the Dick Grove School of Music and at LACM.
