Guyanese singer songwriter Mark Holder has just released a new recording “Come On Down to Sweet Guyana,” which is the title song of a new CD set for release on December 1. Mark, who is a resident of Sooke, British Columbia, told The Scene this week that a video is in the works.
“Come On Down” is fiercely patriotic and its lyrics ooze nostalgia. Referring to Kaieteur Falls, the rainforest, cassava, Georgetown, Bartica, Berbice, bauxite, Essequibo, diamonds, plantain, sugar cane Mount Roraima and even Banks Beer and El Dorado 15-year-old among other unique Guyanese things, it urges all to “Let’s have a good time//Guyana good time.”
Mark noted that it’s the second song he wrote to “promote and enhance tourism in Guyana.”
The CD which drops December 1 has 13 songs and according to Mark, “It should make some noise.” Though he has released over 500 tunes, 20 albums and 10 CDs, Mark is perhaps best known for his soulful salute to women “Something of Value.” His career spans more than 30 years, way back to the 70s when following the production of his album ‘All The Way’ at Coach House Studio in England, Guyanese international superstar Eddy Grant had prophetically told him, “We at Coach House know you will go ‘All The Way.’”
As a pioneer in Caribbean music, Mark was one of the first such artists to sign with Atlantic and Capital Records. He has toured worldwide including with Eddy, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson Five and the Mighty Sparrow and has a large fan base in Canada, the US and Europe. More information on Mark can be found at Lookup Music: www.lookupmusic.ca
