Born on February 12, 1960, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA, Mark Douthit has built an extraordinary career as a versatile and accomplished musician. His formal education began at Middle Tennessee State University and the Cincinnati Conservatory, and then he earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1984. During his time there, he studied under the legendary jazz educator Jerry Coker, laying the foundation for a lifelong journey in music.
Throughout his career, Douthit has recorded with an impressive roster of iconic artists, including Elton John, Sheryl Crow, Chris Stapleton, Amy Grant, Billy Joel, Stevie Nicks, Vanessa Williams, Garth Brooks, Blake Shelton, John Fogerty, Michael W. Smith, Willie Nelson, Toby Keith, Hank Williams Jr., Whitney Houston, Dolly Parton, Michael McDonald, Diana Krall, the Neville Brothers, Peter Cetera, Faith Hill, Vince Gill, Keith Urban, Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes, Wynonna Judd, Steven Curtis Chapman, Brenda Lee, Bebe & Cece Winans, Larnelle Harris, Bob Carlisle, David Foster, Keith Thomas, Michael Omartian, Ben Folds, Yolanda Adams, Larry Carlton, and many others.
His live performance credits are equally impressive, having shared the stage with Michael McDonald, Toto, John Batiste, Marcus Miller, Toni Braxton, India.Arie, James Ingram, Kelly Clarkson, Edwin McCain, Mark Cohn, Christopher Cross, Don Henley, Natalie Cole, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Spinners, Take 6, Patti LaBelle, Billy Preston, Gino Vannelli, Delbert McClinton, Donna Summer, and more.
In addition to his work with artists, Douthit has contributed to major motion picture soundtracks, national radio and television commercials, and was the saxophonist for CNN and Headline News for many years. He was also a member of the house band on the television variety show Prime Time Country (TNN) for three and a half years. In 1997, he received the Dove Award for Instrumental Album of the Year for The Players. His solo projects include Groove (Hillsboro Records, 2002) and December Morning (Green Hill Records, 2006).
Since 2002, he has toured and performed extensively with Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Larry Carlton. From 2006 onward, he has also toured with Grammy Award-winning artists Vince Gill and Amy Grant. Between 2012 and 2019, he was a touring member of Michael McDonald’s band.