MARK SCHATZ

• From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts (near Boston). Lives in Nashville.
• First band: Mandala, a folk dance group.
• Has played bass with Tasty Licks, Spectrum, the Tony Rice Unit and the Bluegrass Album Band.
• 1990-1997, played bass with Tim and Mollie O’Brien as one of the O’Boys. He continues to work with Tim and Mollie on selected dates.
• Also plays clawhammer-style banjo (his banjo is heard on theme music for the IBMA awards show.)
• 1995, released Brand New Old Tyme Way album (Rounder).
• Is an accomplished dancer; serves as musical director for the dance troupe Footworks. In 1996, he performed with the hit show Riverdance.
• 1998, formed a side band with Tim O’Brien, Jerry Douglas and Charlie Cushman called The Flatt Heads.
• 1994, 1995, won IBMA award for Bass Player of the Year.
• 2003, began performing regularly (on bass) with Nickel Creek.
• 2006, released Steppin’ in the Boiler House album featuring his clawhammer banjo playing & original songs.
• 2008, joined the Claire Lynch band.
• 2014, re-joined Nickel Creek for their 25th anniversary tour.