Mark Gersmehl

Background

Gersmehl was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 1954, and spend his childhood in the area.

Education

His first instrument was the piano, although he later studied trombone, baritone, flute, and recorder.

Career

Gersmehl played keyboards in the band, as well as occasionally singing lead vocals. He also contributed his songwriting skills, penning 15 of "s 16 Number. 1 hits. When the group disbanded in 1998, he began a solo career, releasing his first solo album in 2002.

At the age of 15 he performed his first “professional” gig at a wedding reception with the New World Quintet.

Later, he would play trombone with the O’Jays, the legendary Philadelphia Sound group, as well as with several professional orchestras in Indiana. While attending Ball State University, Gersmehl began playing horns at the studios of Bill and Gloria Gaither.

Other studio musicians suggested that he go on the road with the, but at first Gersmehl was hesitant. The third time his studio friends insisted, Gersmehl agreed to go on the road.

He would play keyboards and horn on tour with the Gaithers for four years.

By 1981, Billy Smiley and Gersmehl, both of whom were playing with the New at the time, found that they were tired of playing backups for other artists, and felt that they wanted to go out on their own and let the Lord work through them. They decided to start their own contemporary Christian music group singing some of their co-written compositions. Four musicians who were in the Gaither Trio, the, or both—Dann and David Huff, Steve Green, and Gary Lunn—decided to join the duo in the formation of the band, which was eventually named “”.

Through ’s numerous lineup changes, Smiley and Gersmehl, the primary songwriters of the group, stayed on.

Gersmehl wrote or co-wrote 15 of the ’s 16 Number. 1 hits, as well as numerous other Top 10 hits for other artists including Kathy Troccoli, Sandi Patty, and Geoff Moore.

In 1998, the group disbanded. While still with, Gersmehl was encouraged by others in the music industry to consider a solo career.

However, he did not begin a solo career immediately after the disbanding of By the early 2000s, Gersmehl was ready to roll again, releasing his first solo album, “Awakening”, in March 2002.

Achievements

• The band was nominated for 2 Grammy Awards and 22 Dove Awards. However, they never won either award.

Membership

He and guitarist Billy Smiley were the only two original members of the band to stay with from its conception in 1982 through its disbandment in 1998.