Mark Knopfler

Who is Mark Knopfler?

Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born, English singer-songwriter, film score composer, guitarist and record producer.

He is known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the English rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded with his brother, David Knopfler in 1977.

After Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler went on to record and produce seven solo albums, and, as with his previous tenure, produced many hit songs. He has composed and produced film scores for eight films, including Local Hero, Cal, The Princess Bride, and Wag the Dog.

In addition to his work with Dire Straits and as a solo artist and composer, Knopfler has recorded and performed with many prominent musicians, including Chet Atkins, The Chieftains, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Bryan Ferry, Emmylou Harris, Jools Holland, Sonny Landreth, Van Morrison, Steely Dan, Sting, and James Taylor, sometimes working as a session musician. He has produced albums for Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, and Randy Newman.

Knopfler is a fingerstyle guitarist and was ranked 27th on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. Knopfler and Dire Straits have sold in excess of 120 million albums to date. A four-time Grammy Award winner, Knopfler is the recipient of the Edison Award and the Steiger Award, and holds three honorary doctorate degrees in music from universities in the United Kingdom.