- Mark Masri
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Mark Masri 
Masri publicity shotBackground information Birth name Mark Masri Born August 23, 1973 Toronto, Ontario, Canada Genres pop, classical-crossover, adult contemporary, gospel Occupations singer, composer, songwriter, producer Years active 2000 - present Labels EMI Associated acts Lara Fabian, David Foster, Olivia Newton-John, Jon Secada, Jim Brickman, Amy Sky Website markmasri.com Mark Masri (born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on August 23rd) is a Canadian singer, songwriter and producer[1] of pop, classical and inspirational songs. He also plays the piano. He is signed to EMI record label. He has released four albums: Mark Masri, La Voce, Christmas Is..., and A Christmas Time with You, as well as a special US release: See My Face. He sings mainly in English, but has a multilingual repertoire of interpretations. On his album La Voce he sings a collection of classic songs in six languages.
Contents
History
Mark Masri was born to a Lebanese immigrant father, a Pentecostal minister, and a Canadian mother, a banker[2] He moved with his family from Ontario to various locations including Quebec and Nova Scotia. He started singing in his father's small church near Antigonish, Nova Scotia, when he was nine. The family returned to Scarborough, Ontario in the 1980s. At twelve he was singing in local churches and giving piano recitals. He led in many choirs and worked as a music producer for the CTS network. When his job position was eliminated, he decided to devote all his time to music. In 2000 he released his first album, self-titled Mark Masri.
After Masri recorded a demo with Amy Sky, on a song she thought might suit Jim Brickman, he was very interested and invited Masri in 2008 to tour with him.[3] They also collaborated on Brickman's hit "Christmas Is..." that reached #18 on Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks. Masri also appeared as a guest vocalist on Jim Brickman’s 2009 CD Faith, which was nominated for Best New Age Album at the Grammy Awards.
He is married to Angela since 1998 and they have a son together.
Awards and nominations
- In 2001, nominated for a Juno Award in the category Best Gospel Album for Mark Masri[4]
- In 2001, winner of the GMA Canada Covenant Award for
- Pop Album Of The Year: Mark Masri
- Contemporary Gospel Song Of The Year: "Dwell In The House"
- Pop Song Of The Year: "Take My Hand" (with Madeline Stone and Bernie Herms)
- In 2010, winner of the GMA Canada Covenant Award for three categories:
- Classical - Traditional Song of the Year for "Time" (Mark Masri featuring Nita Whitaker) (Mark Masri jointly with Amy Sky))
- Classical - Traditional Album of the Year for La Voce
- Inspirational Song of the Year for "Hold On" ((Mark Masri jointly with Adam Crossley and John Acosta)
In popular media
- In 2009, Mark Masri appeared in PBS Beautiful World, filmed at the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort. He shared the stage with Jim Brickman, Jon Secada, Melinda Doolittle, Órla Fallon, Arthur Hanlon, David Klinkenberg, Anne Cochran and Tracy Silverman.
- On 15 October, he took part in Hitman Returns: David Foster and Friends Live singing love alongside Seal, Natalie Cole, Chaka Khan, Charice, Donna Summer, Canadian Tenors, Kenny G, Kathryn Joosten and others.
Discography
Albums
- 2001
- Mark Masri (independent limited edition)
- 2009
- Christmas Is...
Tracklist
- Ave Maria
- O Holy Night
- Christmas Is (feat Jim Brickman)
- Every Time It Snows (feat Olivia Newton-John)
- Panis Angelicus
- A Holy Child
- A Christmas Time With You
- Greatest Gift of All (Your Love) <small(feat Jim Brickman and Amy Sky)
- Silent Night
- Lullaby, My Love
- 2009
- See My Face
(only in the United States)
- 2010
- La Voce
Tracklist
- Ce Sempre Musica
- Truly
- Hold On
- Caruso
- Fragilidad (Fragile) (feat Jon Secada & Pavlo)
- La Prima Vota (The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face)
- Fix You
- I Owe You
- Time (feat Nita Whitaker)
- Buongiorno Principessa
- A Song Can Change Your Life
- Love You With My Life
- Erev Shel Shosanim (feat Amy Sky)
- Je T'Attendrai (The Face)
- A Mother's Love (feat Jim Brickman)
- The Prayer
- 2010
- A Christmas Time with You
Tracklist
- The Gift of Christmas Love
- Christmas Is…(feat. Jim Brickman)
- Every Time It Snows (feat. Olivia Newton-John)
- Ave Maria
- Silent Night
- Panis Angelicus
- Holy Child
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas with I'll Be Home For Christmas (feat. Dawn Langstroth)
- A Christmas Time With You
- Don’t Save It All For Christmas Day (feat. Toronto Mass Choir)
- Lullaby, My Love
- What Child Is This?
- O Holy Night
- 2011
- Intimo
Featured
- 2008: "Christmas Is" by Jim Brickman feat. Mark Masri - reached #18 on Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks
- 2009: "Breathe, Dream, Pray, Love" in album Home (Jim Brickman feat. Mark Masri and Delta Goodrem)
- 2010: "To Be Wanted" by Olivia Newton-John feat. Mark Masri appeared on Newton-John's album Grace and Gratitude - Renewed edition) (United States release). The album reached US Billboard New Age albums chart at #2, Billboard Christian albums chart at #36 and Billboard Christian/Gospel albums chart at #54.
- 2010: "Waiting" (Rosanna Riverso feat. Mark Masri) on her album Let There Be Peace
References
- ^ S.L. Feldman & Associates: Mark Masri page
- ^ Richard Ouzounian (18 November 2010). "Mark Masri: An ex-choirboy embraces his secular charms". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/article/892608--mark-masri-an-ex-choirboy-embraces-his-secular-charms. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
- ^ John P. McLaughlin in Toronto National Post: The Playlist - Mark Masri’s Christmas collaborations
- ^ "JUNO Artist Summary Awards Database". junoawards.ca/database/. Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. http://junoawards.ca/database/artist-summary/?artist_name=Mark+Masri&show_details=1. Retrieved 6 February 2011.
External links
Categories:- 1973 births
- Living people
- People from Toronto
- Canadian people of Lebanese descent
- Canadian male singers
- Canadian pop singers
- Canadian performers of Christian music
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