Mark Abbott

[Bruce Heffner]

God Speed you Mark and thanks for your advise last year.

[Roy Rosetta]

What sad news, Mark was a friend and a fellow staff band member for many, many years. Although we knew that Our lord would be calling Mark soon, it is still a shock and so very final. Mark was truly a great friend to me and Barbara for so many years. Rest in peace dear friend and go be with Our Precious Lord in His heavenly band.
...Roy and Barbara

[Ron Pruter]

I don't usually post on these things because words seem so inadequate. But Mark was amazing. Talent and also, an unbelievably nice human being. I remember at the steel show a song was way to jazzy and, to me, weird. It was totally scored out. The bass player passed it off to Mark. He went over, stuck his nose in the music and never took it out. He played it flawlessly then went right back to playing his fiddle.
Also, the first time I played at the SWSGA show I was very nervous. He and the rest of the band where very nice but Mark topped it off by saying to me something that I've never been told. He said, "It was an honor playing with you". I mentioned this to my friend Doug Green and he said, "That sounds like Mark" I'll miss him. Very special.

[Mike Cass]

Man, sure sorry to hear this sad news.
Dont know if it's been mentioned but he was a fine upright player as well. Mark played with Ray Price and the Cherokee Cowboys a number of times while I was there, on both violin or upright.
My thoughts and prayers to his family and manyfriends.
RIP my buddy.
MC

[Stu Schulman]

Oh No!I am besides myself,I had some good talks with Mark last year in Phoenix,He was my favorite fiddler and a great bass player.My condolences to Mark's family.

[Lynn Stafford]

Very sad news indeed, for Kathy and I as well as the rest of the musical community. Mark was gracious enough to accompany and even sing with us the last two times we played at the SWSGA in Mesa. What an awesome talent and such a wonderful person to boot.

Our most sincere condolences to Mark's family and may he rest in peace.

[Jim R. Harrison]

I am so saddened by this message! I had an email from Mark about two weeks ago. He was a fine person and excellent musician. We will all miss him immensely.

[George Duncan Sypert]

I always admired Mark Abbott from the very first time I heard him play bass and fiddle in Dallas many years ago. The first time I ever had a chance to talk with him was 3 years ago on a Wednesday night at Lil Red's Saloon in the Stockyards. I was sitting in the back of the room when he came walking in the door and came up to get a bite to eat. I called out to him and invited him to sit and chat. He did and we talked about 2 hours. He told me that he had just left the Sons of the Pioneers and was coming home and looking for some work. I finally got around to asking him if he would consider playing fiddle on my set Thursday night at the TSGA. He said he would be glad to. Long story short he also played my set the following year. Words cannot express how honored I felt to have him on that stage. I will always miss Mark for the person he was first and the musician he was second. RIP Mark Abbott.

[Steve Cattermole]

So sad to hear this.I was just getting to know Mark, and he seemed like the nicest guy in the world.I asked him to back me up in Phoenix and he said he would be honored, and he didn't even know me. RIP Mark

[Neil Lang]

Such sad news. RIP Mark. We were introduced to Mark by Jim Pack a few years ago at the Dallas show. He was an awesome musician and had a great personality and sense of humor!!! Our Prayers and Condolences to his family!
Neil & Barb

[Herb Steiner]

Many musicians who have been honored to have been accompanied by Mark Abbott will understand when I say that Mark was a rock that you could build your performance upon, whether as a bassist that knew where you were going instinctively, or as a fiddler that could complement your solo with his own version of the melody.

I loved his friendship and will miss him forever. Big hole in the TX music community.

[Joe Rogers]

I got to play 2 dates with Mark in 2019 and through those dates I got to know him on a deeper level than at the steel shows. He was a great player and a great individual. Wish I had spent more time on the bandstand with him.


Joe Rogers