Mark Spiro obit

R.I.P. Mark Spiro 1957-2024

 He was not on the list.

Mark Spiro was an American songwriter, record producer and recording artist. Represented on millions of records sold worldwide, Spiro delivered songs to artists such as Julian Lennon, Cheap Trick, John Waite, Heart, Lila McCann, Laura Branigan, Bad English, Lita Ford, and Giant.

From Julian Lennon:

‘No words…

I don’t even know where to begin. I’m heartbroken & lost for words…

Mark & I have been dear friends & co-writers for decades… We were family, as were his family to me, Leslie, Summer & Ruby. I saw Mark becoming ill, a few years ago, but always had hope, that he would pull through…

Sadly, on his Birthday yesterday, it was time for him to fly & sing with the Angels….

We were Brothers, on so many levels….

I am devastated that I will never see him again, laugh with him again, be creative with him again… But I am so Thankful to have known him, and his incredible loving family…

“Saltwater wells in My eyes”

“And the tears roll in between”

You’ll forever be remembered & you’ll forever be a part of My Life…

Condolences to Mark’s family & friends…

Words are not enough.

Represented on millions of records sold worldwide, he delivered songs to such artists as Julian Lennon, Cheap Trick, John Waite, Heart, Lila McCann, Laura Branigan, Bad English, Lita Ford, and Giant. He released solo material sporadically.

Originally from Seattle, Spiro relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career within the music industry in his early 20s. While in Los Angeles, he met German record producer/label owner Jack White, after which he spent several years in Germany working as a singer, songwriter, and producer (Laura Branigan, Anne Murray, Engelbert Humperdinck, Pia Zadora, Hazell Dean, David Hasselhoff). Upon his return to Los Angeles in the mid-1980s, he began building a reputation as a successful songwriter with his first major cut on the Top Gun soundtrack and continued to write songs and produce for other artists.

Spiro was one of the first recording artists to be signed by Interscope Records/Jimmy Iovine. Scheduling conflicts/politics resulted in Spiro leaving Interscope Records.[citation needed] He later recorded Care of My Soul, a solo album released in Australia, Scandinavia, and Japan. In September 2012, his brand new Care Of My Soul. Vol. 2 album was released by Sun Hill Production. At the same time an extended version of the Care Of My Soul Vol. 1 album was released. Both CD albums are available in digipack packaging with 8-12 page booklets as well as found on all digital platforms and formats. In late 2012, Spiro co-wrote and produced the duet "Someday" with Julian Lennon and Steven Tyler. Spiro also produced for his daughters Ruby and Summer Spiro, who recorded for Lyric Street Records as the duo Ruby Summer.

In 2020, Frontiers Records released a compilation called 2+2=5: Best of + Rarities which featured the best of his solo material starting from 1996's "Now Is Then, Then is Now", until "It's a Beautiful Life", which was released in 2012 on the German label AOR Heaven.

Spiro announced a new solo album entitled Traveling Cowboys which was released on May 7, 2021, from Frontiers Records. The first single from the album is a duet called "7 Billion People" which featured Julian Lennon and guitarist Tim Pierce.

 

Discography

Solo albums

In Stereo (1986, Germany)

Care Of My Soul (1994, Japan/Australia/Scandinavia)

Now Is Then, Then Is Now (1996, Europe & Scandinavia)

Devotion (1998, Europe & Scandinavia)

The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of (1999, Europe & Scandinavia)

King of Crows (2003, Europe & Scandinavia)

Mighty Blue Ocean (2005, Europe & Scandinavia)

It's a Beautiful Life (January 2012)

Care Of My Soul Vol. 1 (2012, September 12. (World)

Care Of My Soul Vol. 2 (2012, September 12. (World)

Traveling Cowboys (May 2021,World)

Collaborations

Steve Perry

David Lee Roth

Rick Springfield

David Cassidy

Terri Nunn

Jane Wiedlin

Julian Lennon

Original music for television

One Tree Hill – "Darling It Was You"

Marker – original music for thirteen episodes

Fame – "Man in the Mirror"

Tatort – "Winds Of Change" title song for the episode Das Haus im Wald (1985)

Songwriter

Julian Lennon – "Saltwater," Photograph Smile

True Romance soundtrack – "In Dreams" by John Waite

Selena soundtrack – "Only Love" by Selena

Music from Another Room soundtrack – "Day After Day" by Julian Lennon

Anne Murray – "Are You Still in Love with Me"

Lila McCann (Multi-Platinum)

Bad English – "Forget Me Not," "Heaven Is a 4 Letter Word," "Straight to Your Heart," "Pray for Rain," "Life at the Top"

John Waite – "In Dreams," "How Did I Get By Without You"

Giant – “I’ll See You in my Dreams”

Mike Reno

Heart – "Cruel Tears"

Cheap Trick – "Mighty Wings" (Top Gun soundtrack), "Ride the Pony"

REO Speedwagon – "Half Way"

Emmanuel

Luis Miguel

Mr. Big – "Ain't Seen Love Like That," "Not One Night"

Kansas – "One Man, One Heart"

Camy Todorow/Kamelia Todorova – "Love is a War"

Seventh Key – "Broken Home" (originally a Kansas demo from 1986, previously unreleased)

Margaret Becker – "Light in the Darkness" (The Reckoning, 1988)