Mark Knopfler Biography (1949-)

Full name, Mark Freuder Knopfler; born August 12, 1949, in Glasgow, Strathclyde, Scotland; son of Erwin (an architect) and Louisa Mary (a teacher) Knopfler; married (separated); second wife, Lourdes Salamone (divorced); third wife,Kitty Aldridge; children: (second marriage) Benji and Joseph (twins); (thirdmarriage) Isabella. Addresses: Agent: Ed Bicknell, Damage Management,16 Lambdon Place, London W11 2SH, England.; Contact: c/o Mercury Records, 72Chancellor's Road, London W69QB, England.

Nationality
British
Gender
Male
Occupation
Composer, guitarist, bandleader
Birth Details
August 12, 1949
Glasgow, Strathclyde, United Kingdom

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Work
  • Musical Producer
  • Metroland, Pandora Cinema, 1997
  • Wag the Dog, New Line Cinema, 1997
  • Musician
  • The Princess Bride, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
  • Metroland, Pandora Cinema, 1997
  • Wag the Dog, New Line Cinema, 1997
  • Film Appearances
  • The Secret Policeman's Third Ball (concert film), Virgin Vision, 1987
  • The Prince's Trust Rock Gala, 1988
  • Television Work
  • Musician
  • Hooves of Fire (movie; also known as Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire), BBC, 1999
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • (With Dire Straits) Alchemy Live, 1984
  • (With Dire Straits) Live Aid, 1985
  • The Prince's Trust All-Star Rock Concert, HBO, 1986
  • In Private and Public: The Prince and Princess of Wales (documentary), British television, 1986
  • A Session with Chet Atkins, Certified Guitar Player (also known asChet Atkins and Friends: Music from the Heart), Cinemax, 1987
  • Himself, The History of Rock 'n' Roll, Vol. 7 (documentary; also known as Guitar Heroes), Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution,1995
  • Episodic
  • "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," French and Saunders, 1990
  • Parkinson, 2000
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • (With Chet Atkins) Neck and Neck, Columbia, 1991
  • (Debut solo album) Golden Heart, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Words + Music, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Night in London, Polygram, 1996
  • Sailing to Philadelphia, Warner Bros., 2000
  • Ragpicker's Dream, Warner Bros., 2002
  • Albums; with Dire Straits
  • Dire Straits, Warner Bros., 1978
  • Sultans of Swing, Warner Bros., 1978
  • Communique, Warner Bros., 1979
  • Dire Straits/Making Movies, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Making Movies, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Love over Gold, Warner Bros., 1982
  • Twisting by the Pool, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Alchemy, Warner Bros., 1984
  • Walk of Life, Warner Bros., 1985
  • Brothers in Arms, Warner Bros., 1985
  • Interview Disc, Baktabak, 1987
  • Money for Nothing, Warner Bros., 1989
  • Alchemy Live, Polygram Video, 1991
  • On Every Street, Warner Bros., 1991
  • On the Night, Warner Bros., 1993
  • Live at the BBC, Winsong, 1995
  • Released numerous singles, including "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet," "Twisting by the Pool," and "Money for Nothing."
  • Albums; Compilations; with Dire Straits
  • Money for Nothing, Warner Bros., 1988
  • The Best of Dire Straits, Polygram, 1998
  • Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, Warner Bros., 1998
  • Albums; Vocal and Musical Contributor
  • Bob Dylan, Dylan, Columbia, 1973
  • McLelland & The Backline, Sandy McLelland & The Backline,Mercury, 1979
  • Bob Dylan, Slow Train Coming, Columbia, 1979
  • Phil Lynott, Solo in Soho, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Dan Steely, Gaucho, MCA, 1980
  • Fausto Papetti, My One and Only Love, Kubaney, 1982
  • Phil Lynott, Philip Lynott Album, Vertigo, 1982
  • Van Morrison, Beautiful Vision, Warner Bros., 1982
  • Bob Dylan, Infidels, Columbia, 1983
  • Phil Everly, Phil Everly, Capitol, 1983
  • Kate and Anna McGarrigle, Love Over and Over, Polydor, 1983
  • Tina Turner, Private Dancer, Capitol, 1984
  • Scott Walker, Climate of Hunter, Virgin, 1984
  • Everly Brothers, Born Yesterday, Mercury, 1985
  • Bryan Ferry, Boys and Girls, Reprise, 1985
  • Chet Atkins, Stay Tuned, Columbia, 1985
  • Tina Turner, Break Every Rule, Capitol, 1986
  • Thin Lizzy, Soldier of Fortune, Telstar, 1987
  • Willy DeVille, Miracle, A&M, 1987
  • Sting, Nothing Like the Sun, A&M, 1987
  • The Secret Policeman's Third Ball (soundtrack), Virgin, 1987
  • Chet Atkins, Sails, CBS, 1987
  • Seldom Scene, Change of Scenery, Sugar Hill, 1988
  • John Illsley, Glass, Warner Bros., 1988
  • Joan Armatrading, Shouting Stage, A&M, 1988
  • Bob Dylan, Down in the Groove, Columbia, 1988
  • Randy Newman, Land of Dreams, Reprise, 1988
  • Chet Atkins, C.G.P., CBS, 1988
  • Tina Turner, Foreign Affair, Capitol, 1989
  • The Judds, River of Time, RCA, 1989
  • Jeff Healey, Hell to Pay, Arista, 1990
  • Notting Hillbillies, Missing ... Presumed Having a Good Time, Warner Bros., 1990
  • Knebworth: The Album, Polydor, 1990
  • Nana Mouskouri, Only Love: The Best of Nana, Philips, 1991
  • Big Daddy, Cutting Their Own Groove, Rhino, 1991
  • Bob Dylan, Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3: Rare & U, Columbia, 1991
  • Buddy Guy, Damn Right, I've Got the Blues, Silvertone, 1991
  • Indigo Girls, Rites of Passage, Epic, 1992
  • Mary Chapin Carpenter, Come On Come On, Columbia, 1992
  • Willie Colon, Corazon Guerrero, Fania, 1992
  • Rory Block, Ain't I a Woman, Rounder, 1992
  • John Anderson, Seminole Wind, RCA, 1992
  • Tina Turner, Sing the Hits of Tina Turner (Karaoke), Singing Machine, 1993
  • Everly Brothers, Mercury Years, Polygram, 1993
  • Phil Coulter, Recollections, Shanachie, 1993
  • Steely Dan, Citizen Steely Dan, MCA, 1993
  • Nanci Griffith, Flyer, Elektra, 1994
  • George Jones, Bradley Barn Sessions, MCA, 1994
  • Bob Dylan, Greatest Hits, Vol. 3, Columbia, 1994
  • Weird Al Yankovic, Greatest Hits, Vol. 2, Scotti Bros., 1994
  • Gary Tesca, Tina Turner Story, Mirage, 1995
  • Mac & O, Someone from Home, Rego Irish, 1995
  • Cliff Eberhardt, Mona Lisa CafĂ©, Shanachie, 1995
  • Chieftains, Long Black Veil, RCA Victor, 1995
  • Randy Travis, Full Circle, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Highway 101, Reunited, Intersound, 1996
  • Alex Bollard, Blues Ballads, Star, 1996
  • Joan Baez, Recently, Gold Castle, 1996
  • Twang!: A Tribute to Hank Marvin & The Shadows, Pangea, 1996
  • John Anderson, Greatest Hits, BNA, 1996
  • John Anderson, Paradise, BNA, 1996
  • Not Fade Away (Remembering Buddy Holly), MCA, 1996
  • Fender 50th Anniversary, Virgin, 1996
  • Iris Dement, Way I Should, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Mike Henderson, First Blood, Dead Reckoning, 1996
  • Clint Black, Nothin' But the Tailights, RCA, 1997
  • Sult: Spirit of the Music (soundtrack), Bottom Line, 1997
  • James McNally, Everybreath, Windham Hill, 1998
  • John Anderson, Super Hits, BNA, 1998
  • Waylon Jennings, Closing in on the Fire, Ark 21, 1998
  • Celtic Christmas, Vol. 4, Windham Hill, 1998
  • Tribute to Tradition, Sony, 1998
  • Randy Newman, Guilty: 30 Years of Randy Newman, Rhino, 1998
  • Also has contributed to Prince's Trust 10th Anniversary Birthday,A&M; Rock for Amnesty, Mercury; Nintendo: White Knuckle Scorin', MCA; Under Shattered Skies, Jubilant Bridge; and Angels Running, Patty Larkin.
  • Albums; Soundtracks
  • Local Hero, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Cal, Mercury, 1984
  • Comfort and Joy, Phonogram, 1985
  • The Princess Bride, Warner Bros., 1987
  • Last Exit to Brooklyn, Warner Bros., 1989
  • Screenplaying (Music from the Films ... ), Warner Bros., 1993
  • Golden Heart, Warner Bros., 1996
  • Metroland, 1998
  • Wag the Dog, Polygram, 1998
  • A Shot at Glory, 2001
  • Albums; Producer
  • Aztec Camera, Knife, Sire, 1984
  • Last Exit to Brooklyn (soundtrack), Warner Bros., 1986
  • Tina Turner, Break Every Rule, Capitol, 1986
  • Color of Money (soundtrack), MCA, 1986
  • Willy DeVille, Miracle, A&M, 1987
  • Randy Newman, Land of Dreams, Reprise, 1988
  • An Officer and A Gentleman (soundtrack), Island, 1988
  • Notting Hillbillies, Missing ... Presumed Having a Good Time, Warner Bros., 1990
  • Chet Atkins, Neck and Neck, Columbia, 1991
  • Classic Rock Box: WNEW-FM 25th Anniversary Box, Polygram, 1992
  • Bob Dylan, Greatest Hits, Vol. 3, Columbia, 1994
  • The Best Rock Album in the World ... Ever!, Virgin, 1994
  • Tina Turner, Collected Recordings--Sixties to the Nineties, Capitol, 1994
  • Alex, 100% Summer, 1994
  • Twang!: A Tribute to Hank Marvin & The Shadows, Pangea, 1996
  • Twister (soundtrack), Warner Sunset/Warner Bros., 1996
  • (Coproducer) Sailing to Philadelphia, Warner Bros., 2000
  • Albums; Producer; for Dire Straits
  • Dire Straits, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Dire Straits/Making Movies, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Making Movies, Warner Bros., 1980
  • Love over Gold, Warner Bros., 1982
  • Twisting by the Pool, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Alchemy: Dire Straits Live, Warner Bros., 1984
  • Brothers in Arms, Warner Bros., 1985
  • Money for Nothing, Warner Bros., 1988
  • On Every Street, Warner Bros., 1991
  • Alchemy Live, Polygram Video, 1991
  • On the Night, Warner Bros., 1993
  • Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, Warner Bros., 1998
  • Music Videos; with Dire Straits
  • Sultans of Swing, Warner Bros., 1978
  • Twisting by the Pool, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Walk of Life, Warner Bros., 1985
  • Money for Nothing, Warner Bros., 1989
  • Alchemy Live, Polygram Video, 1991
  • Videos
  • Sultans of Swing: The Very Best of Dire Straits, 1999
  • WRITINGS
  • Film Scores
  • Local Hero, Warner Bros., 1983
  • Cal, Warner Bros., 1984
  • Comfort and Joy, Universal, 1984
  • The Princess Bride, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1987
  • Last Exit to Brooklyn (also known as Letze Ausfahrt Brooklyn), Neue Constantin, 1989
  • Tishina (also known as A Silence), 1991
  • Metroland, 1997
  • Wag the Dog, 1997
  • A Shot at Glory, Mac Releasing LLC, 2000
  • As You Wish: The Story of the Princess Bride (documentary), Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists Home Entertainment, 2001
  • Television Scores
  • (Title song, "Why Aye Man") Pet Auf Wiedersehen (series), 1983
  • Hooves of Fire (movie; also known as Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire), BBC, 1999
  • Music Composer
  • Songs Featured in Films
  • "Where Do You Think You're Going?," Brothers and Sisters, 1980
  • "Solid Rock," Riding High, 1980
  • "Tunnel of Love," An Officer and a Gentleman, 1982
  • "Walk of Life" and "So Far Away," Space Camp, 1986
  • "Money for Nothing," Uhf, 1989
  • "Brothers in Arms," McBain, 1991
  • "Six Blade Knife," Desperado, 1995
  • "Sweet Dreams," Michael, 1996
  • "Romeo and Juliet," Can't Hardly Wait, 1998
  • "Relax," I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, 1998
  • "Walk of Life," Safe Men, 1998
  • "Romeo and Juliet," 200 Cigarettes, 1999
  • "Private Dancer," Virtual Sexuality, 1999
  • "Rudiger," Bandits, 2001
  • "Brothers in Arms," Spy Game, 2001
  • Books
  • (With George Harrison and Chas McDevitt) Skiffle: The Definitive Inside Story, Parkwest Publications, 1999

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Contemporary Musicians, Volume 25, Gale, 1999
    • Current Biography Yearbook, Gale, 1995
    Periodicals
    • Entertainment Weekly, March 29, 1996
    • Guitar Player, July, 1996, p. 35
    • People Weekly, April 15, 1996, p. 27
    • Playboy, March, 1994, p. 21
    • Time, March 20, 1995, p. 79
    • Variety, December 15, 1997, p. 58
    Electronic
    • Mark Knopfler--Official Site, http://www.wbr.com/markknopfler, June 10, 2002