Mark Matejka

Last updated

Mark Matejka
Service members enjoy Defenders of Freedom Appreciation Day (Image 7 of 8).jpg
Matejka in 2012
Background information
Born (1967-01-02) January 2, 1967 (age 57)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Genres Southern rock, hard rock, blues rock, country
Occupation(s)Guitarist
Years active1990s–present
Member of Lynyrd Skynyrd
Formerly of Sons of the Desert, Hot Apple Pie

Vincent Mark "Sparky" Matejka (born January 2, 1967), is an American rock guitarist. He joined Lynyrd Skynyrd in 2006, replacing Hughie Thomasson who had left to reform Outlaws. [1] He first played with the band on their Christmas Time Again album in 2000 and was credited with guitar and vocals.

Biography

Matejka was born in Houston, Texas on January 2, 1967. He graduated from James E. Taylor High School, in Katy, Texas in 1985. [2]

Prior to joining Lynyrd Skynyrd, Matejka was a member of Hot Apple Pie, a country music band. [3] He also played for Charlie Daniels Band [4] and Sons of the Desert. [5]

He played guitar on tour with the Kinleys in 1998. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynyrd Skynyrd</span> American rock band

Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American Southern rock band formed in Jacksonville, Florida in 1964. The group originally formed as My Backyard and comprised Ronnie Van Zant (vocals), Gary Rossington (guitar), Allen Collins (guitar), Larry Junstrom (bass), and Bob Burns (drums). The band spent five years touring small venues under various names and with several lineup changes before deciding on "Lynyrd Skynyrd" in 1969. The band released its first album, (Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd), in 1973. By then, they had settled on a lineup that included bassist Leon Wilkeson, keyboardist Billy Powell, and guitarist Ed King. Burns left and was replaced by Artimus Pyle in 1974. King left in 1975 and was replaced by Steve Gaines in 1976. At the height of their fame in the 1970s, the band popularized the Southern rock genre with songs such as "Sweet Home Alabama" and "Free Bird". After releasing five studio albums and one live album, the band's career was abruptly halted on October 20, 1977, when their chartered airplane crashed, killing Van Zant, Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines; and seriously injuring the rest of the band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ronnie Van Zant</span> American singer (1948–1977)

Ronald Wayne Van Zant was an American singer, best known as the founding lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was the older brother of Johnny Van Zant, the current lead vocalist of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Donnie Van Zant, the founder and vocalist of the rock band .38 Special.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sweet Home Alabama</span> 1974 single by Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Sweet Home Alabama" is a song by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on the band's second album Second Helping (1974). It was written in response to Neil Young's 1970 song "Southern Man", which the band felt blamed the entire South for American slavery; Young is name-checked and dissed in the lyrics. It reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974, becoming the band's highest-charting single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed King</span> American rock musician (1949–2018)

Edward Calhoun King was an American musician. He was a guitarist for the psychedelic rock band Strawberry Alarm Clock and guitarist and bassist for the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1987 to 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Outlaws (band)</span> American rock band

Outlaws is an American Southern rock band from Tampa, Florida. They are best known for their 1975 hit "There Goes Another Love Song" and extended guitar jam "Green Grass and High Tides" from their 1975 debut album, plus their 1980 cover of the Stan Jones classic "(Ghost) Riders in the Sky".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Free Bird</span> 1974 single by Lynyrd Skynyrd

"Free Bird", also spelled "Freebird", is a song by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, written by guitarist Allen Collins and lead singer Ronnie Van Zant. The song was released on their 1973 debut studio album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allen Collins</span> American guitarist (1952–1990)

Larkin Allen Collins Jr. was an American guitarist, and one of the founding members of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He co-wrote many of the band's songs with frontman and original lead singer Ronnie Van Zant.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Van Zant</span> American singer (born 1960)

John Roy Van Zant, also known as Johnny Van Zant, is an American singer and the current lead vocalist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. He is the younger brother of Lynyrd Skynyrd co-founder and former lead vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, and of the 38 Special founder Donnie Van Zant.

<i>(Pronounced Lĕh-nérd Skin-nérd)</i> 1973 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

(Pronounced 'Lĕh-'nérd 'Skin-'nérd) is the debut studio album by American rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on August 13, 1973, by MCA Records. Several of the album's tracks remain among the band's most well-known: "Gimme Three Steps", "Simple Man", "Tuesday's Gone", and "Free Bird", the last of which launched the band to national stardom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Rossington</span> American guitarist (1951–2023)

Gary Robert Rossington was an American musician best known as a founding guitarist of Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, with whom he performed until his death. Rossington was also a founding member of the Rossington Collins Band, along with former bandmate Allen Collins. Rossington was the last surviving founding member of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the only original member left in the band at the time of his death.

Hot Apple Pie was an American country music band founded in 2002. The band consisted of Brady Seals, Keith Horne, Trey Landry (drums), and Mark Matejka (guitar). Matjeka was replaced in 2006 by Kevin Ray. Seals was initially co-lead vocalist and keyboardist of Little Texas until 1994. Signed to DreamWorks Records Nashville in 2005, Hot Apple Pie released its self-titled debut album that year. This album produced three chart singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including the No. 26-peaking "Hillbillies."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Powell</span> American keyboardist (1952–2009)

William Norris Powell was an American musician and the keyboardist of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1972 until his death in 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James E. Taylor High School</span> Public school in Texas, United States

James E. Taylor High School is a public high school in unincorporated Harris County, Texas, in the Greater Katy area. The campus is located within the Nottingham Country subdivision, but is not within the Katy city limits. The school serves grades 9 through 12, and is part of Katy Independent School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ean Evans</span> American bassist (1960–2009)

Donald "Ean" Evans was an American musician who was the bassist for southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd from 2001 until his death. He joined the band following the death of Leon Wilkeson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rickey Medlocke</span> American rock musician

Rick Medlocke is an American musician, best known as the frontman/guitarist for the Southern rock band Blackfoot and a member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. During his first stint with Lynyrd Skynyrd from 1971 to 1972, he played drums and sang lead on a few songs that would initially be released on 1978's "First and... Last." Medlocke would rejoin Blackfoot in 1972 and later returned to Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1996 as a guitarist with whom he continues to tour and record today.

<i>Christmas Time Again</i> 2000 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Christmas Time Again is the eleventh studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released in 2000.

<i>God & Guns</i> 2009 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

God & Guns is the thirteenth studio album by the southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on September 29, 2009.

<i>Live from Freedom Hall</i> 2010 live album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Live from Freedom Hall is a live album by the "post-crash" lineup of southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, released on June 22, 2010, after their eleventh studio album God & Guns. The set includes a CD with 15 live tracks and a DVD of that concert. This is the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album produced by Evan Haiman. Both Ean Evans and Billy Powell died before the release of this album, and it is also their last live album with the band.

<i>Last of a Dyin Breed</i> 2012 studio album by Lynyrd Skynyrd

Last of a Dyin' Breed is the fourteenth studio album by American Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd. The album was announced on May 2, 2012, for release on August 21, 2012, and September 17 in the UK. It is the first Lynyrd Skynyrd album to feature Peter Keys on keyboards and Johnny Colt on bass and features guest guitarist John 5. It was also the final album to feature guitarist Gary Rossington before his death in 2023. The first single, "Last of a Dyin' Breed", was made available to purchase via iTunes on July 9, 2012.

References

  1. Jordan, Mark (June 2, 2006) "Rock's survivors play on: Tragedies take toll on Skynyrd but heart of music still beats", The Commercial Appeal , p. G22.
  2. Taylor High School Stampede 1985 Vol. 6 Katy Texas. James E. Taylor High School, 20700 Kingland Blvd., Katy, Texas 77450: James E. Taylor High School Staff and Senior Students. 1985. pp. 50, 56, 57, 73, 218, 251.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. North, Peter (August 4, 2006). "Hot Apple Pie warms to challenge on outdoor saloon's stage", Edmonton Journal , p. A15.
  4. Campell, Dan (June 5, 2006). "Skynyrd plays Wolf Trap: Dedicates 'Red, White, Blue' to military past and present", Washington Times , p. B5.
  5. Bream, Jon (June 9, 2006). "Why, it's Lynyrd Skynyrd's Southern rock, infiltrating the country-music scene", Star Tribune , p. F4.
  6. Boehm, Mike (April 29, 1998). "Twin Engines: The Talented Kinley Sisters Are Prepared for Takeoff: Now They Need to Tap Some Star Power", Los Angeles Times , p. 2.