 The
longtime frontman for the British funk-pop group Level 42, Mark King was
born in Cowes, England on October 20, 1958. A onetime drummer, upon
co-founding Level 42 in 1980 he moved to the bass, honing a distinctive
thumb-slapping technique which became an integral element of the group's
sound; from their self-titled 1981debut onward the quartet enjoyed
considerable success at home, and in 1984 King took time out to record his
debut solo album, Influences. After Level 42's international popularity
peaked in 1986 with the hit "Something About You, " the band released a
series of subsequent LPs before disbanding in late 1994, leaving King to
resume his solo activities; the album One Man followed four years later. |