“MARK…A ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC JOURNALIST AND A TRUE ROCK CONESUER LEGEND…”
-Robin Roth
NOT TO BE CORNY with my words of love and adoration but…
Mark Lewis was a prince among men. Moreover, he was intelligent, kindhearted, caring, trusting, humble, and the most special man I had ever been fortunate enough to work with. We were a team together for almost 15 years and being with him was always joyful. He was a Rock and Roll encyclopedia genius of information, with all his know-all knowledge about the universe of every Rock artist.
I had the good fortune of doing many in-person Famous Rock Artist interviews with Mark. EACH AND EVERY TIME, I was blown away by the countless facts he brought to the conversations. So much so, the artists being interviewed were taken aback by a lot of the information they themselves had long forgotten.
Smart, poised, classy, and laid back was his M.O. He made every person he interviewed feel comfortable and at such ease that they might have revealed more than they even planned to disclose. As a matter of fact, they would mention just that. I would giggle, for it was always so true.
I remember our interview with Alice Cooper and his wife. The interview was scheduled for 15 minutes. Well, that turned out to be almost 2 hours. Mark’s generosity of spirit and his appreciation, respect, and admiration for the world of rock music and its talented players was not only poetic but inspiring. During our interviews, (as well as all his endless solo interviews) his eyes lit up with such excitement and enthusiasm. It never got old for him. Watching Mark at our interviews, it was obvious that he wanted to know how the artist got started in their craft as well as getting started in the music business.
However, Mark being Mark, he was also curious about an artist’s personal life, their passions, and future dreams and hopes. In addition, he was also interested in their family life. He did this so eloquently, without coming off as being pushy or gossipy. The artists felt his honest, childlike curiosity, and would always happily respond. At the end of each interview, Mark would say, “Thank you. It was a pleasure.” To which they would usually respond, “No, thank you, the pleasure was mine.” Adding, “This was the best conversation I’ve ever experienced with a music journalist.”
In typical Mark style, he both glowed and blushed.
Mark cared so much about everyone he knew and particularly the Rock Over America staff. Or, as he would say, My Rock Over America family. He always worried and cared that we were happy. This gentleman was uniquely amazing, naïve, childlike, and honest to a fault., I never heard him say an unkind word about anyone at any time. He was immensely grateful for the many wonderful opportunities his magazine, Rock Over America, brought to his life.
Although Mark has passed, he will never be gone or forgotten. His legacy will live on. He will always remain in my heart for all he did for me, as well as the infinite lives he touched.
I love you, Mark! And I know for certain that “You Rocked this life, and you are Rockin’ the halls of heaven!”
