About
People and places that Mark Minassian (aka I Am Winkle) has encountered along his musical path:
■ Performing
Todd Rundgren, Joan Jett, Keith, Jim Croce, and Robert Hazard are just some of the famous musicians
who also had their formative years in Philadelphia’s inner suburbs of Upper Darby and Lansdowne. Like
them, Mark pursued a music career as a singer-songwriter, which led him to open for many of the
touring acts of the era, including Livingston Taylor, Melanie, Tom Paxton, Michael Cooney, Dreams (Brecker Brothers), Hall & Oates and George Thorogood and The Destroyers.
■ D. W. Fearn/Veritable Recording Company
Doug Fearn is the founder of the world-famous D.W. Fearn Company, a manufacturer of some of the
finest vacuum tube microphone preamplifiers and other outboard equipment for the professional sound
recording industry. Doug was the owner of Veritable Recording Company in Lansdowne, PA, where
Mark worked as a studio musician in the 1970s. It was there that he cut many of his first original pop
rock recordings, with Doug as the producer. Doug remains a good friend and a longtime supporter.
■ Sound Gems Records
Sound Gems Records was the label on which his one and only 45-rpm single was released in 1975, under
the name Mark Ian. He was Sound Gems first white pop artist at the time. It was produced by Doug
Fearn and arranged by Joe and Lou Parente. He performed it on the then-popular TV show Steele Pier,
hosted by Ed Hurst. Although the song Class of 65, written by Pal Rakes and Frank Fioravanti, briefly
received local airplay, it never charted nationally. Fioravanti (owner of Sound Gems Records) was the
executive producer of William DeVaughn’s 1974 smash hit, “Be Thankful for What You’ve Got”.
Fioravanti was also responsible for securing its release on the original Roxbury Records label, owned by
Wes Farrell. Additionally, Mark was privileged to play bass for some of the demos that would later be
used for De Vaughn's follow-up album, "Give the Little Man a Great Big Hand.”
Todd Rundgren, Joan Jett, Keith, Jim Croce, and Robert Hazard are just some of the famous musicians
who also had their formative years in Philadelphia’s inner suburbs of Upper Darby and Lansdowne. Like
them, Mark pursued a music career as a singer-songwriter, which led him to open for many of the
touring acts of the era, including Livingston Taylor, Melanie, Tom Paxton, Michael Cooney, Dreams (Brecker Brothers), Hall & Oates and George Thorogood and The Destroyers.
■ D. W. Fearn/Veritable Recording Company
Doug Fearn is the founder of the world-famous D.W. Fearn Company, a manufacturer of some of the
finest vacuum tube microphone preamplifiers and other outboard equipment for the professional sound
recording industry. Doug was the owner of Veritable Recording Company in Lansdowne, PA, where
Mark worked as a studio musician in the 1970s. It was there that he cut many of his first original pop
rock recordings, with Doug as the producer. Doug remains a good friend and a longtime supporter.
■ Sound Gems Records
Sound Gems Records was the label on which his one and only 45-rpm single was released in 1975, under
the name Mark Ian. He was Sound Gems first white pop artist at the time. It was produced by Doug
Fearn and arranged by Joe and Lou Parente. He performed it on the then-popular TV show Steele Pier,
hosted by Ed Hurst. Although the song Class of 65, written by Pal Rakes and Frank Fioravanti, briefly
received local airplay, it never charted nationally. Fioravanti (owner of Sound Gems Records) was the
executive producer of William DeVaughn’s 1974 smash hit, “Be Thankful for What You’ve Got”.
Fioravanti was also responsible for securing its release on the original Roxbury Records label, owned by
Wes Farrell. Additionally, Mark was privileged to play bass for some of the demos that would later be
used for De Vaughn's follow-up album, "Give the Little Man a Great Big Hand.”
Mark with Doug's dog, Kodaly, who loves the recording studio. They're discussing the pros and cons of the part he's recording.
■ Past Names
Mark Minassian, Mark Ian, and The Mark Ian Band were the names used when he performed and recorded in the 1970s. In the 1980s, it was the trio, The Bomp Zone, where he was the lead singer and played lead guitar and keys. Much of the music from those decades has been salvaged from old cassette tapes that have subsequently been digitally processed and are now featured on this site. Master tapes no longer exist.
■ Venues
JC Dobbs, Grendel’s Lair, The Ripley Music Hall, Bigelow’s, Hockster’s, Hecates' Circle, Strode's Mill Theatre, and Joe’s Sportsman’s Lounge were among the many Philly-area venues Mark played throughout the years, along with appearances at many local colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Villanova University, Widener University, Drexel University, and Beaver College (now Arcadia University).
■ The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
PIT is where he returned to school after quitting the music business in 1985 in order to pursue a career
in electronics and computer technology. After graduating, he landed a job with a small
technology company called Varitronics Inc., where he worked for 17 years, becoming Technical
Applications Manager, before retiring at age 54 and eventually moving to a small cottage in Chester
County, PA. His education and work experience prepared him for the technical side of recording music in
today's digital world.
■ Current Studios
Reconnecting with Doug in 2014 at D.W. Fearn Studio, he made his return to recording after a nearly 30-year hiatus
from the music business. The two began recording newly written material, most of which you’ll find on this site under
the D.W. Fearn Studio tab. Shortly thereafter, Mark created Rosemill Studio, a home-based recording studio and
contacted Leo Valentino to assist in the productions. He was a former radio DJ, the soundman for Mark’s trio
The Bomp Zone in the 1980s and was looking for a new creative project at the time. Recording sessions continue
today mainly at Rosemill Studio, with occasional production at D.W. Fearn Studio.
■ Current Names
I Am Winkle, Last Stand Blues Band and Into the Soup are the names with which he is currently
associated. Performing with friends Tony D’Addono and John Michowychock, he records blues songs as
part of the Last Stand Blues Band. When venturing (pun intended) into the instrumental surf music
realm, it’s as his alter-ego surf band, Into the Soup. And for all other recordings and genres, such as
singer-songwriter, rock, retro-pop, folk, etc., he performs as I Am Winkle, which references his
awakening after so many years away from the music business, a nod to the famous character in
Washington Irving’s story, Rip Van Winkle.
Mark Minassian, Mark Ian, and The Mark Ian Band were the names used when he performed and recorded in the 1970s. In the 1980s, it was the trio, The Bomp Zone, where he was the lead singer and played lead guitar and keys. Much of the music from those decades has been salvaged from old cassette tapes that have subsequently been digitally processed and are now featured on this site. Master tapes no longer exist.
■ Venues
JC Dobbs, Grendel’s Lair, The Ripley Music Hall, Bigelow’s, Hockster’s, Hecates' Circle, Strode's Mill Theatre, and Joe’s Sportsman’s Lounge were among the many Philly-area venues Mark played throughout the years, along with appearances at many local colleges, including the University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Villanova University, Widener University, Drexel University, and Beaver College (now Arcadia University).
■ The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology
PIT is where he returned to school after quitting the music business in 1985 in order to pursue a career
in electronics and computer technology. After graduating, he landed a job with a small
technology company called Varitronics Inc., where he worked for 17 years, becoming Technical
Applications Manager, before retiring at age 54 and eventually moving to a small cottage in Chester
County, PA. His education and work experience prepared him for the technical side of recording music in
today's digital world.
■ Current Studios
Reconnecting with Doug in 2014 at D.W. Fearn Studio, he made his return to recording after a nearly 30-year hiatus
from the music business. The two began recording newly written material, most of which you’ll find on this site under
the D.W. Fearn Studio tab. Shortly thereafter, Mark created Rosemill Studio, a home-based recording studio and
contacted Leo Valentino to assist in the productions. He was a former radio DJ, the soundman for Mark’s trio
The Bomp Zone in the 1980s and was looking for a new creative project at the time. Recording sessions continue
today mainly at Rosemill Studio, with occasional production at D.W. Fearn Studio.
■ Current Names
I Am Winkle, Last Stand Blues Band and Into the Soup are the names with which he is currently
associated. Performing with friends Tony D’Addono and John Michowychock, he records blues songs as
part of the Last Stand Blues Band. When venturing (pun intended) into the instrumental surf music
realm, it’s as his alter-ego surf band, Into the Soup. And for all other recordings and genres, such as
singer-songwriter, rock, retro-pop, folk, etc., he performs as I Am Winkle, which references his
awakening after so many years away from the music business, a nod to the famous character in
Washington Irving’s story, Rip Van Winkle.
