In 1972, Holden was encouraged by a neighbour to audition for Adelaide Tonight, a local television show hosted by Ernie Sigley. Holden attended an open audition along Tynte Street, North Adelaide, singing an original song and "I'll Walk with God", where he was successful and performed on the show a number of times. In 1973, Sigley moved to Melbourne and launched his own show The Ernie Sigley Show. Sigley invited Holden to Melbourne where he performed on this show. Throughout 1973, Holden travelled between Melbourne and Adelaide, balancing his music and law degree.
In 1974, Holden entered Showcase '74, a television talent show on Network Nine where he sung original folk songs. Holden was ultimately placed fifth. John Bromwell from Essex Music encouraged Holden to relocate to Sydney and arranged a meeting with Peter Dawkins a record producer with EMI Music who signed Holden. Holden's debut album 'Dawn in Darkness' was released in 1975, in which Holden wrote or co-wrote all the tracks. From 1975 to 1976, Holden performed as Joseph in the first Australian production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Seymour Centre, Sydney. He was the first pop star in the world to play the lead role.
In May 1976, Holden released a cover of Eric Carmen's "Never Gonna Fall in Love Again". The song became a hit peaking at #13 on the Australian Kent Music Report. He released "I Wanna Make You My Lady" in September and "Last Romance" in December, which both peaked at #11. Holden issued his second studio album, 'Let Me Love You'. At the TV Week King of Pop Awards of 1976, he won Most Popular New Talent. In 1977, Holden released "Hey, My Love" in February which peaked at #32, and "Reach Out for the One Who Loves You" in August, which peaked at #17. Holden's third album 'Encounter' was released in 1977. Both 'Let Me Love You' and 'Encounter' were each certified double gold for shipment of 50,000 copies.
In 1979, Holden relocated to Los Angeles and signed with American label Scotti Brothers Records. His first release on this label was "Stay" which he co-wrote with Gloria Sklerov. The song didn't chart but was covered by John Schneider on his 1981 album, 'Now or Never'. Mark wrote and recorded "Scintillating Lady", which was due to launch his American career with a performance of the song live on CBS; however, just before the performance, his wisdom teeth needed removing and he sang the song though pain and a swollen mouth. The song was poorly received and not released. Holden and Scotti Brothers Records parted ways. In 1983, Holden released his fourth studio album, 'Mark Holden' on Mercury Records, in which he co-wrote all of the tracks. The album did not chart, and Holden began to focus on writing and producing.
After the lack of success of the album 'Mark Holden', Holden focussed on becoming a songwriter and music producer. He formed a company called Multimedia with Anthony Curtis and Dan Wilson and over the next decade co-wrote two top ten hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the Temptations, "Lady Soul" (June 1986) and "Look What You Started" (1987). There were also hits with Tracie Spencer, Joey Lawrence, Will Downing, a #1 dance hit with Kathy Sledge, and over 50 cover recordings of his songs from artists as varied as Belinda Carlisle, Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, The Manhattans, Donny Osmond, José Feliciano, Fleetwood Mac, David Hasselhoff, Scarlett and Black and Branford Marsalis. He also developed and produced artists including Calvin Klein model and film star Milla Jovovich ('Chaplin', 'Blue Lagoon 2', 'Dazed and Confused', 'The 5th Element'), for EMI Records Group, New York. This led to her debut album; a US Top Ten Post Modern hit, it won critical raves including a 3 star review in Rolling Stone magazine.
For three years between 1992 and 1995, Holden worked with David Hasselhoff, producing and coordinating his albums, live promotion and musical projects for television, particularly in Europe where David enjoyed multi-platinum successes including the Top Ten hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 'Wir Zwei Allein Heut Nacht' ('Together alone tonight') which Mark wrote with David Hasselhoff. Jeremy Jackson, the actor who played David Hasselhoff's son on Baywatch, was signed to Mark Holden's production company and had two hits in Europe including 'You Can Run' which was Top 5 in the Netherlands.
In 1995, Holden's second child Katie was born. Amid the rising violence in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, Holden and his partner Anna decided to move back to Australia in September 1996. In 1996, Holden recommenced his law degree and by 1997 was keen to get back into the music business. He teamed with Jack Strom who he knew from the early 1970s and was the producer of Red Faces on Hey Hey It's Saturday. The pair listened to a number of demos before visiting a Russian restaurant in Carnegie where they met a 15-year-old Vanessa Amorosi. They signed her and launched her career in 1999. Amorosi's debut album 'The Power' peaked at #1 and was certified 4 times platinum in Australia. At the APRA Music Awards of 2001, Amorosi's "Shine" won Most Performed Australian Work, in which Holden co-wrote. Strom and Holden formed Marjac Productions and wrote songs and helped launch careers of Delta Goodrem, Nikki Webster and Sophie Monk.
In 1999, Holden performed his show "100 Years of Australian Music" at the School of Arts Café in Queanbeyan and hosted the Silver Jubilee edition of Countdown. In 2002, Holden was honoured by This is Your Life. In 2003, Holden was a judge on the inaugural season Australian Idol, where he remained for five seasons until 2007. Holden executive-produced the "Final 12" cast CD for Australian Idol which went double platinum and included the song "Rise Up" which he co-wrote with Vanessa Amorosi and peaked at #1 on the ARIA Charts. His phrase "Touchdown" became the highest form of accolade for the contestants. Cosima De Vito received the first touchdown, for her rendition of Cold Chisel's "When the War Is Over". In 2003, Holden appeared in cameo acting roles on Kath & Kim.
In 2004 Holden signed and managed Joel Turner, a beat-boxer from Idol. Credited to Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets, their first single "These Kids" reached #1 on the ARIA Charts and achieved double platinum status. Their self-titled album was released in late 2004 was also certified platinum. In 2004, Holden recorded a live DVD titled Live at the George Ballroom. The DVD was produced by Drew Thompson and released in 2005 as a DVD + CD through Thompson Music. In 2004, Mark's family group, The Holdens, released their first CD, 'A Tribute to Tex Morton'. The album featured songs made famous by the legendary country singer Tex Morton.
In 2005, Holden appeared as a judge on the first season of The X Factor, along with John Reid and Kate Ceberano. The R&B group he mentored during the show, Random, went on to win, becoming the first group anywhere in the world to do so. In May 2017, Holden released his autobiography, titled, My Idol Years. Holden produced Judith Durham's 2018 album, 'So Much More'.
During the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June 2018 Holden said "I'm about to do a limited release of a CD called Mark Holden – The Lost '80s Album. It's a collection of songs I recorded in the '80s when I was a journeyman songwriter in LA. Looking back on all those songs and recordings I was rewriting the same song over and over again centred on my relationship with my now wife and the ultimate conception and birth of our now 22-year-old daughter Katie."
In September 2020, Holden and his daughter Katie commenced releasing The Idol Archives podcast, which sees the duo chat to former Idol contestants about their memories, in this behind-the-scenes look at the reality show. In 2023, Holden voiced "The Old Man" in the narrative video game RoboCop: Rogue City.
SINGLES
''Till Summers Fade / Blue Jean Dream'' 1975 EMI
''Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (#13) / There'll Come A Day'' 1976 EMI
''I Wanna Make You My Lady (#11) / Never Ever Monday'' 1976 EMI
''Last Romance (#11) / Hurricane Rider'' 1976 EMI
''Hey, My Love (#32) / We Have Love'' 1977 EMI
''Reach Out For The One Who Loves You (#17) / Stay With Me'' 1977 EMI
''Let's Go Dancing / Easy Street'' 1977 EMI
''First Thing In The Morning / Where Are You, Girl'' 1978 EMI
''Stay / Any Other Night'' 1980 Scotti Brothers
''For You (#90) / I'll Rock You To Sleep Tonight'' 1983 Mercury
''Who Do You Love? / Hey, Little Girl'' 1983 Mercury
ALBUMS
'Dawn In Darkness' 1975 EMI
'Let Me Love You' 1976 EMI
'Encounter' 1977 EMI
'Mark Holden' 1983 Mercury
'The Lost 80s Album' 2018 Dream Dealers Pty Ltd
For three years between 1992 and 1995, Holden worked with David Hasselhoff, producing and coordinating his albums, live promotion and musical projects for television, particularly in Europe where David enjoyed multi-platinum successes including the Top Ten hit in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, 'Wir Zwei Allein Heut Nacht' ('Together alone tonight') which Mark wrote with David Hasselhoff. Jeremy Jackson, the actor who played David Hasselhoff's son on Baywatch, was signed to Mark Holden's production company and had two hits in Europe including 'You Can Run' which was Top 5 in the Netherlands.
In 1995, Holden's second child Katie was born. Amid the rising violence in Los Angeles in the early 1990s, Holden and his partner Anna decided to move back to Australia in September 1996. In 1996, Holden recommenced his law degree and by 1997 was keen to get back into the music business. He teamed with Jack Strom who he knew from the early 1970s and was the producer of Red Faces on Hey Hey It's Saturday. The pair listened to a number of demos before visiting a Russian restaurant in Carnegie where they met a 15-year-old Vanessa Amorosi. They signed her and launched her career in 1999. Amorosi's debut album 'The Power' peaked at #1 and was certified 4 times platinum in Australia. At the APRA Music Awards of 2001, Amorosi's "Shine" won Most Performed Australian Work, in which Holden co-wrote. Strom and Holden formed Marjac Productions and wrote songs and helped launch careers of Delta Goodrem, Nikki Webster and Sophie Monk.
In 1999, Holden performed his show "100 Years of Australian Music" at the School of Arts Café in Queanbeyan and hosted the Silver Jubilee edition of Countdown. In 2002, Holden was honoured by This is Your Life. In 2003, Holden was a judge on the inaugural season Australian Idol, where he remained for five seasons until 2007. Holden executive-produced the "Final 12" cast CD for Australian Idol which went double platinum and included the song "Rise Up" which he co-wrote with Vanessa Amorosi and peaked at #1 on the ARIA Charts. His phrase "Touchdown" became the highest form of accolade for the contestants. Cosima De Vito received the first touchdown, for her rendition of Cold Chisel's "When the War Is Over". In 2003, Holden appeared in cameo acting roles on Kath & Kim.
In 2004 Holden signed and managed Joel Turner, a beat-boxer from Idol. Credited to Joel Turner and the Modern Day Poets, their first single "These Kids" reached #1 on the ARIA Charts and achieved double platinum status. Their self-titled album was released in late 2004 was also certified platinum. In 2004, Holden recorded a live DVD titled Live at the George Ballroom. The DVD was produced by Drew Thompson and released in 2005 as a DVD + CD through Thompson Music. In 2004, Mark's family group, The Holdens, released their first CD, 'A Tribute to Tex Morton'. The album featured songs made famous by the legendary country singer Tex Morton.
In 2005, Holden appeared as a judge on the first season of The X Factor, along with John Reid and Kate Ceberano. The R&B group he mentored during the show, Random, went on to win, becoming the first group anywhere in the world to do so. In May 2017, Holden released his autobiography, titled, My Idol Years. Holden produced Judith Durham's 2018 album, 'So Much More'.
During the Adelaide Cabaret Festival in June 2018 Holden said "I'm about to do a limited release of a CD called Mark Holden – The Lost '80s Album. It's a collection of songs I recorded in the '80s when I was a journeyman songwriter in LA. Looking back on all those songs and recordings I was rewriting the same song over and over again centred on my relationship with my now wife and the ultimate conception and birth of our now 22-year-old daughter Katie."
In September 2020, Holden and his daughter Katie commenced releasing The Idol Archives podcast, which sees the duo chat to former Idol contestants about their memories, in this behind-the-scenes look at the reality show. In 2023, Holden voiced "The Old Man" in the narrative video game RoboCop: Rogue City.
''Till Summers Fade / Blue Jean Dream'' 1975 EMI
''Never Gonna Fall In Love Again (#13) / There'll Come A Day'' 1976 EMI
''I Wanna Make You My Lady (#11) / Never Ever Monday'' 1976 EMI
''Last Romance (#11) / Hurricane Rider'' 1976 EMI
''Hey, My Love (#32) / We Have Love'' 1977 EMI
''Reach Out For The One Who Loves You (#17) / Stay With Me'' 1977 EMI
''Let's Go Dancing / Easy Street'' 1977 EMI
''First Thing In The Morning / Where Are You, Girl'' 1978 EMI
''Stay / Any Other Night'' 1980 Scotti Brothers
''For You (#90) / I'll Rock You To Sleep Tonight'' 1983 Mercury
''Who Do You Love? / Hey, Little Girl'' 1983 Mercury
'Dawn In Darkness' 1975 EMI
'Let Me Love You' 1976 EMI
'Encounter' 1977 EMI
'Mark Holden' 1983 Mercury
'The Lost 80s Album' 2018 Dream Dealers Pty Ltd
References
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Holden
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Holden
http://top100singles.blogspot.com.au/
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