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Milford Musician Writes from the Heart
Platt explains, “My songs come from life and life experiences. I’m not always in the studio recording or on a stage performing; I’m living my life, and that’s where the songs come from.” Platt has been writing songs since he was 18. The songs come to him - words and music at the same time. Back then, as one might imagine, most of the songs were about romance and were heavily influenced by the rock and folk music movements of the day. But over the years, he said, he’s grown as a songwriter. The songs have a good deal of meaning about real life situations. Six years ago Platt decided to put together a group of musicians to perform his songs. He hand picked Joe Mineri on bass, Joe Nocerino on drums, Harriett Milnes on sax, Eleanor Conger-Milnes on violin; and Karen Klute on piano. “It’s great having a band, because you can write with them in mind”, Platt said. “I have to honor it, because they are great musicians who want to play my music”. What does the band say of Mark? “He’s a perfectionist. He knows the sound he wants and he gets it”. Platt’s group continues to perform at churches and social functions. The group has become popular in its own circle and is often requested to play at arts functions such as First Night New Haven and at area coffee houses. MILFORD CITIZEN Big Day For The Chamber
MILFORD - Timothy Shriver’s visit to Milford Thursday allowed several residents to show their artistic sides. Among them was Mark Platt, a Milford resident, who sang a specially written and dedicated song inspired by the Special Olympians in these games. Platt is the leader of Mark Platt and The Walnut Street Band, which has released several CD’s. Platt said he was “honored to have been asked to perform at the Special Olympics. As an artist, it’s exciting to be a part of something like this.”
By Michael Gannon MILFORD – volunteers for the Milford Fine Arts Council spent Thursday afternoon doing the final setup for tonight’s Performance coffeehouse, which features artists and performers in the intimate setting of the group’s Railroad Avenue south building. “We have musicians, singers, comedy and poetry”, said Eden, the coffeehouse chairwoman. “We want to provide the community with good entertainment for a reasonable price. Tonight’s scheduled performance is Mark Platt. “When we have local musician Mark Platt of Milford, we always have a good turnout. He’s back by popular demand.”
Singer Songwriter Mark Platt to perform at Strawberry Festival
Activities and entertainment will also abound. Mark Platt from New Haven will be performing. A singer, guitar, harmonica player and songwriter, Mark has just completed his first album called “There Go I”. Singing in a group since the age of 15, and playing and writing since he was 18, Mark has many miles of the road and performances to look back on. He has been writing and performing ever since. He feels quite lucky to have the freedom to perform in environments such as this where he finds such pleasure in sharing his experiences through his music. Though he generally performs solo, Mark recorded this album with a group he named The Walnut Street Band after the street in New Haven where he was born. He’s been writing songs for so many years that when asked how long it takes to get enough material together for a whole album, it was made clear that at this stage, that was definitely not a problem. He says he has enough original songs for three strong albums in the near future.  CONNECTICUT NEWS Mark Platt - He Keeps With Life’s Flow –
Influenced by John Lennon, Elvis and Fats Domino, his compositions range from bluesy ballads to up-tempo rockers to spirituals. He’s tremendously talented. His music has the energy and drive of the rock and roll and blues tradition, but the subject matter is more about his spiritual life and mature relationships with other people. Platt had written over 100 songs and spent years on the road, performing across the country from Greenwich Village to California to the mountains of Montana. But now he concentrates on local venues and concerts for charity groups and churches, raising funds for special events and organizations. Described by friends as an easygoing, thoughtful guy, Platt gets away from it all hiking at Sleeping Giant state park and going for walks on the beach. He has a degree in history and literature from the University of Connecticut. |
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Joy of Living ~ Living to Give By Mark Platt
Music has been my passion since I was 7 years old. I was born into a working class non-musical family. I began singing with a band at the age of 15 and writing original songs at 18. I had a healthy respect for the power of music in my early teenage years. Throughout my twenties this power was at times frightening. Frightening not only in the cliché regarding sex, drugs and rock & roll, but also inappropriate social activities such as fighting, drunk driving and crime; things people claimed music made them do removing themselves from mainstream society. The lyrics and structure of a song can address pain and sadness, physical ailments, depression and psychological confusion. The effects of music on life are seemingly endless. Music can control people’s creativity, laughter, tears, love, peace or joy. It can alter our decisions regarding how we live our life and even face death. Though I was performing and writing over the next two decades, I experienced a level of frustration with my accomplishments. Not that my music wasn’t well received but wondering what real good was it doing for others. How egocentric was my material? Applause and recognition weren’t quite enough. That was all about to change when I was invited to attend a 4-day multi-denominational worldwide spiritual retreat. The Spiritual Director on the retreat invited me to attend his church. I liked his down to earth spirituality. He was aware of my music ability, having performed at the retreat. In the course of these very structured days, I had an opportunity to participate in writing and performing in skits and fun singing sessions for the purpose, I believe of bonding the group and lightening up some serious sessions regarding spiritual themes; such as honesty, grace, purity, selfishness, piety, and love. The experience was so moving, that to this day the lessons learned from the retreat affect my daily living. It also gave me the jolt of rejuvenation I needed to truly realize the full potential of music’s affect on people. It created in me a desire to share my music with those in need of abundant living.
In the course of my career, I have written and recorded four studio CD’s and two live recordings, all of original material. I believe I have remained straightforward, honestly passionate and diverse, expressing love, loss, pain, joy, cynicism and hope. My life was good. I was fortunate to have secured a job, no longer subjected to the rigors of the road and its uncertainties, married in my 40’s, living in a beautiful home in a quant coastal town with a loving wife and a bright, vivacious, daughter. I was soon to be forced to face one of life’s most serious challenges. In 2009 I was diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. My first question to the doctor was “This isn’t a death sentence, is it?” He hesitated and his reply was one I will never forget: “I just sent another patient, with the same diagnosis, home to his family to live out his final days. If you have a vacation planned with your wife you should take it. However, there is a very specialized team I want you to see. ” I was given only 4 months to a year to live. My only chance was surgery. Surgery that has a survival rate of only 25%. My esophagus had to be removed and my stomach would be used to create a new esophagus. The major complication – other than death – was loss of peristalsis – the function of the esophagus that delivers food to the stomach and keeps it down. For example, if you turn me upside down after eating, the food would literally all pour out. The risk of damage to the vocal chords was a concern, as my voice for talking and singing might be compromised. Even with a successful surgery there might be the need for chemotherapy and there would be major life style changes regarding eating habits and sleeping. I would need to adjust to eating 6 small meals daily and sleeping upright at a 45* angle. Of course I made it a priority to visit this team my doctor recommended. Dr. Thomas Fabian led the team. I chose Dr. Fabian after an almost immediate series of coincidences: having seen a front-page article in a prestigious medical journal featuring Dr. Fabian, and the introduction by a friend who had a colleague with the same condition and operation I needed and was performed by the team mentioned in the article.
The night prior to my scheduled surgery, there was a healing service led by my Pastor. She was also the leader of “Shadow’s End”, the singing choral which I was a member. I named the group after the street on which the Pastor lived. It was also the title of the piece I wrote to be our theme song. We performed at special events, and shared our gift of music with the community and individuals in need of healing words and comfort from music. When Dr. Fabian entered the waiting room to inform my wife it was going to begin he looked around and noticed a room full of people. He said, “Are all these people with you?” My wife responded, “Yes, they’re my friends”. The doctor, as my wife had later told me, was overwhelmed with the large room over-flowing with people who had come to pray during the surgery for the entire medical staff and myself, and to comfort my wife. Among these were mutual friends family and people I had played music for and with. The surgery lasted 7 hours requiring teams of surgeons to relieve one another. I nearly died during one intricate part of the surgery, which lead the surgical team leader to place other staff on alert. Finally I was brought into ICU for 24-7 observation. The hospital Chaplin at times became a liaison between the staff and myself; as the many tubes made it impossible for me to speak, we would communicate with pen and paper. At one point he asked if he could use my CD “A Christian In The World” as part of his Sunday morning sermon. I was filled with gratitude when he asked my permission to use the CD, as it allowed me to give back to others.
Two years into my recovery, Dr. Fabian took the prestigious position as Chief of Thoracic Surgery in Albany, NY. Before he relocated, he introduced me to his handpicked replacement, Dr. Mario Katigbak, with whom I remain a patient of to this day. I had come as close to death as one can get, but I am alive and have a renewed spirit and love of music. I’m thankful to be able to share my story and take this opportunity to thank all the dedicated employees at the Rocky Hill Veteran’s Home in Connecticut for providing professional, compassionate, and dignified care for my father. A world of thanks also for the life saving surgeon who “coincidently” was put in my path to save my life. My resolve has been strengthened to continue using music therapeutically, realizing the power it has to heal. I am living to give this gift to others as they search for healing on their journey to wellness. With the addition of spiritual and Christian songs I am more comfortable with the power and effectiveness in my life and in the life journey of others. There’s tremendous fulfillment in allowing others to experience healing and joy in their life. Today is a gift, which is why it is called |
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MILFORD – Mark Platt is very comfortable in front of an audience. Give him a guitar, a harmonica and microphone and he’ll tell you what’s going on in his heart!
NEW HAVEN – On Saturday, Zion’s Hill United Methodist Church is going to be one busy place. It’s Strawberry Festival time! 
MILFORD – Those who know songwriter Mark Platt say that while he may not be very good at self-promotion, when it comes to music, he’s definitely at the top of the charts.
I have personally experienced the axiom in the belief that one secret of abundant living is the art of giving; the paradox of life is that the more you give, the more you receive.
My father, Raymond, spent the last four years of his life suffering from the complications of PTSD, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, requiring him to live in the long term care facility of the Rocky Hill Veteran’s Home in Connecticut. My father was a recognized WWII hero, honored by the Military with many medals and press. To some degree, all the patients at the VA were heroes. I volunteered to provide music for weekly chapel services and special events during those years. The staff and the priest assured me that the music I provided was therapeutic for the men and women there who rarely experienced the sound of music or a musical instrument. The staff as well as the patients looked forward to these weekly performances.
Dr. Fabian stressed I had to act quickly. He looked me straight in the eyes and stated that this is the last surgery anyone would want to have but I should have it, and if successful, was the only cure. After a series of tests, including a CT-Scan, barium swallow, PET-Scan and enough blood drawn to satisfy a community of vampires, the oncologist agreed. It was clear there was no other choice. So with the help and support of my wife and sister who is an Operating Room R.N. I needed to face this battle head-on – immediately.
My recovery was slow but steady, and after numerous procedures and nearly a month in the hospital, half of which was in Intensive Care, I was sent home with a feeding tube. My wife needed to set up the machine with nutrition and medicine every morning and every evening. Nurses and health care workers would come periodically to monitor my progress.