Mark Knopfler

Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE (born August 12, 1949, Glasgow, Scotland) is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Although best-known as the lead guitarist and vocalist for the band Dire Straits (1977 - 1995), Mark has also made albums as a solo performer and played in other bands (such as the Notting Hillbillies). He has also performed on work by other artists, such as Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and Chet Atkins, and produced albums for artists such as Tina Turner, Randy Newman, and (again) Bob Dylan. In addition, he has scored the music to several films, including Local Hero, The Princess Bride, Comfort and Joy, Cal, Last Exit to Brooklyn and Wag the Dog.

After Knopfler disbanded Dire Straits in 1995, he launched straight into a solo career with 'Golden Heart' (1996) - a mixture of his various music stylings that appeared throughout Dire Straits' career.