Mark Bowden was one of Australia's top musicians. He was married to singer/entertainer, Sylvia Raye, for 37 years. This is their story and that of Mark's son Grant.
Sylvia and Mark's romance started in Vietnam in 1970 when both were on tour with an ABC concert party - Mark the drummer in the ABC Showband, Sylvia one of the performers.
Grant is a Senior Executive, Electrical Engineer in I.T. and Telecommunications, however has a love of music, studied opera and continues to sing as a hobby.
Sylvia described their life as an adventure until Mark was diagnosed with a very rare and fatal lung cancer. His dying wish was to produce a CD with the two people he loved the most, his wife Sylvia and his son Grant.
Although most of the tracks on this CD had been recorded in the music room of their home just weeks before Mark died, Sylvia and Grant decided to work with fellow musician, recording producer and friend Russell Finch, to bring the CD up to a quality Mark would have wanted. Russell has added to Mark's arrangements and has also written some new arrangements for this project. Sylvia and Grant are grateful for Russell's sensitivity and encouragement and they worked together to make sure the integrity of what Mark was trying to achieve has not been lost.
Mark chose all the songs on this CD. He said, "it is all about the lyrics, about love and the nice things in life."
Traumatised and emotionally drained, Sylvia, who was nursing Mark at home, was reluctant to sing. However just one month before Mark passed away, Sylvia agreed to sing with Grant When You Tell Me That You Love Me, saying, "One take, I will only do one take". This is now the feature track on this CD.
Mark's dying wish was at last fulfilled, however he had one more request. He told Grant he wanted the duets played at his funeral and that he was to tell those present that the words were from him to Sylvia, the love of his life.
Weeks later, Alan Jones AO and Australia's number one broadcaster, was at a friend's place for dinner. It just so happened the hosts were also friends of Sylvia and Mark's, who had attended Mark's funeral and had asked for a copy of the CD. They played the CD to Alan. He then invited Sylvia to be a guest on his radio program. Alan wanted to share this story and their music with his listeners. After playing When You Tell Me That You Love Me, the reaction was such they realised they had something very special, something that touched the hearts of many.
Although a very personal situation, Sylvia and Grant have now decided to tell their story and share their music.
For further enquiries contact Ambition Entertainment, cath@ambitionentertainment.com or call Robert 0425 280 802.
"THIS IS THE ALBUM OF THE YEAR !"
ALAN JONES A.O. - RADIO 2GB Macquarie Radio Network
TRACK LISTING
- WHEN YOU TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME
JOHN BETTIS, ALBERT HAMMOND - MONA LISA
RAY EVANS, JAY LIVINGSTON - I HAD A TALK WITH MY MAN
BILLY DAVIS, LEONARD CASTON - THROUGH THE YEARS
MARTY PANZER, STEPHEN DOFF - MAM’SELLE
EDMUND GOULDING, MACK GORDON - UNTIL IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO GO
BUFFY SAINT MAREE - SMILE
CHARLIE CHAPLIN, JOHN TURNER, GEOFFREY PARSONS - BILITIS, WHEN LOVE IS GONE
FANCIS LAI, PAUL EVANS, BRYAN WELLS - LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING
JEROME KERN, B.G. DE SYLVA - ALL I SEE IS YOU
CLIVE WESTLAKE, BEN WEISMAN