The Songwriters Hall of Fame was saddened to learn of the passing of 2014 inductee, Mark James.
FROM THE FAMILY OF MARK JAMES: With great sorrow and a song in their hearts, the family of legendary songwriter and musician Mark James announces his passing at his home in Nashville, Tennessee, on June 8, 2024, at the age of 83.
Mark was born Francis Rodney Zambon on November 29, 1940, in Houston, Texas, to Galliano and Mildred Zambon. The son of a hardworking, industrious Italian immigrant and a revered schoolteacher, his musical talents were obvious from an early age. His first instrument was the violin, and his dedication and natural ability soon earned him the first-chair spot with his grade-school orchestra.
That was the beginning of a long and storied career. Before he finished high school, Mark had mastered not only the violin, but also the acoustic and electric guitar as well as the piano. A gifted composer and vocalist, anything with strings or keys came to life in his fingers.
Mark began playing the club circuit in his native Houston prior to high school graduation and gained prominence on the local music scene by the early 1960s. His music career was briefly interrupted in the mid-’60s, when he served his country in Vietnam with the U.S. Army. Upon his return, he worked tirelessly in the recording studio to regain his momentum, and his efforts paid off tenfold.
In 1968, Mark’s lifelong friend and fellow Houstonian, B.J. Thomas, climbed the charts with “The Eyes of a New York Woman” and the megahit “Hooked on a Feeling," both written by Mark. Swedish pop group Blue Swede would go on to reach No. 1 in the U.S. in 1974 with their version of “Hooked on a Feeling,” which is known for its now-famous “ooga-chaka” chant.
Also in 1968, Mark released “Suspicious Minds” as his own single, in collaboration with Memphis producer Chips Moman. Not long after, in 1969, Elvis Presley recorded his version of the song, which became a chart-topper and was later named to “Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list. In 1986, Britain’s Fine Young Cannibals released their own adaptation of the song, which climbed to No. 8 on the U.K. Singles chart.
Mark’s success grew exponentially as he found his niche writing songs that left both recording artists and fans wanting more. In 1972, he signed a contract with Screen Gems-Columbia Music, and the following year, country singer Brenda Lee scored a top-ten single with her recording of “Sunday Sunrise,” which he penned. Ann Murray later released in 1975 her version of the song, which reached No. 13 on both Canadian and U.S. charts.
Meanwhile, Elvis continued to request and record Mark’s songs, including hits “Raised on Rock,” “It’s Only Love” and “Moody Blue.” Elvis also recorded “Always on My Mind,” which Mark cowrote with Johnny Christopher and Wayne Carson. Ironically, the song that eventually became one of Mark’s most recognized works, when it was released by Willie Nelson in 1982, was previously released as a B-side single by Elvis a decade earlier. It won two Grammy Awards in 1983: one for Song of the Year and another for Best Country Song. Britain’s Pet Shop Boys also reached No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 4 on U.S. charts with their 1987 release of the song.
Other notable songs to Mark’s credit include “Roller Coaster,” “Where Do We Go From Here,” “Alone Too Long” and “Blue Water” from his self-titled album, “Mark James 1973.” One of the songs he was most proud of writing was “Blue Suede Heaven,” which he created to pay tribute to Elvis and performed each year at Graceland during Elvis Week.
With a catalog that boasts more than 300 original songs, Mark was a prolific writer and artist. His hits have been featured in countless blockbuster films, such as the “Guardians of the Galaxy” franchise, “Elvis” (released in 2022 and directed by Baz Luhrmann with lead actor Austin Butler), “Lilo & Stitch,” “Kramer vs. Kramer,” “Blackhawk Down” and “Reservoir Dogs,” just to name a few.
A lifelong learner and an avid movie buff, Mark studied film scoring at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). He was always exploring new ways to hone his craft and expand his skill set as a creator.
In recognition of his vast contributions to the music industry, Mark was inducted into the New York Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2014, as well as the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015 and the Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2022.
Mark received additional honors from Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) in 2022 for achieving numerous milestones, including 9 million airplays of “Suspicious Minds,” 9 million airplays of “Hooked on a Feeling,” 7 million airplays of “Always on My Mind,” 1 million airplays of “Moody Blue” and 1 million airplays of “The Eyes of a New York Woman.” His collective 27 million airplays (which has increased since 2022) for those five songs equate to 162 years of continuous, back-to-back play on the airwaves.
Mark leaves behind to cherish his memory a multitude of family and friends. He is survived by his beloved soulmate, childhood sweetheart and wife of 53 years, Karen Zambon; daughters Sammie Zambon (Scott Ware) and Dana Zambon (Bud Beaudreault); grandchildren Kaeden and Imari Shalibo; brother Rollin Zambon; sisters-in-law Cynthia Richardson and Melinda Kent; nieces Michelle Zambon-Breitner, Tracy Richardson, Pamela Lewandowski and Elizabeth Kent; nephews Michael Zambon, Matt and Scott Richardson, Clint and Danny Taylor, Andrew and Elliott (godson) Kent; and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents, Galliano and Mildred Zambon, and brother-in-law Robert Taylor (Marilyn).
In lieu of flowers, family and friends are encouraged to consider donating to the Songwriters Hall of Fame (songhall.org/donate) to support its essential programs and initiatives benefiting songwriters worldwide. Mark’s family also welcomes messages of condolence, stories and memories of Mark at [email protected].
You can read his full Songwriters Hall of Fame biography here.
