Mark Lemaire

Mark Lemaire has been performing on guitar since he was twelve. Originally from New England, by high school he was writing songs and playing the coffeehouses in Boston and Cambridge. At 23, his musical world changed when he landed a job as a recording engineer at the legendary Euphoria Sound. As a staff engineer, Mark learned his studio chops with producer Jimmy Miller, who produced The Rolling Stones, Blind Faith, Traffic, and the Spencer Davis Group. He also did sessions with the wild and infamous Johnny Thunders of the New York Dolls, as well as 80’s college radio darlings Scruffy the Cat.

Mark moved to the San Francisco area in 1985, planning to perform more and engineer a little less. He opened for Maria Muldaur at the legendary Sweetwater in Mill Valley, and for Steve Seskin and Even Dozen Jug Band founder and folk icon Stefan Grossman at the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley, but then tendonitis forced Mark to perform a little less and engineer a little more.

Since then, Mark has recorded artists ranging from Latin quartet Cascada de Flores to experimental metal band Neurosis, as well as folk and rock artists of every stripe. Between sessions, he found time to record his guitar solo CD "Rubato, Pieces for Guitar", as well as many of the songs that appear on Practice Makes Perfect.

In the mid 90’s, Mark found himself in the cloistered world of classical and early music recording. He's recorded the San Francisco Symphony, the Santa Rosa Symphony, California Bach Society, and many other classical groups. Find out more about Mark’s recording life at RubatoRecording.com.

Mark completed Practice Makes Perfect in 2008. Mark began performing with Cindy van Empel as Mark and Cindy Lemaire in 2009. In autumn 2012, they released their first CD as a duo — Home Isn't Home.  In 2016, Mark released his second album of guitar instrumentals: Equinox, Pieces for Guitar, Vol II.  And in 2018 the 25th anniversary edition of the classic Rubato, Pieces for Guitar was completed.

In the last few years, Mark has performed at the Woodstock Invitational Guitar Festival, Santa Barbara Acoustic Instrument Celebration, Vancouver Guitar Festival, LaConner Guitar Festival, and others. Onstage, he has represented top luthiers like Ervin Somogyi, Leonardo Buendia, Mark Gaiero, and many others.

In 2018, Mark (or Mark and Cindy, depending on the show) toured New Zealand, Canada, England and Scotland, as well as had performances here in the US. They live in Northern California.

  • "Lemaire has received critical kudos from the industry as well as his musical peers. Performing with Cindy Lemaire, the blend of voices adds a perfect exclamation point to Mark's virtuoso guitar playing and songwriting."

    Pasadena Weekly

  • "It was an impeccable performance. Never have I witnessed such control of the steel stringed guitar's sound. This was a flawless show."

    Mark Twang, Folkways Recordings

  • "The mix of instrumental (Mark's expertise with the guitar amazed our friends), duets with Cindy (their voices blend beautifully as one), humor and short stories to introduce the songs – it was perfect. Mark and Cindy's rapport with our friends was almost magical."

    Sylvia and John Schofield

  • "God, you must practice a lot to play so cleanly. I’ve been recording and creating music for over 50 years and I still find it extremely challenging switching from the art of writing and playing, to dealing with the science of recording. You do both!"

    Loren Jones
    composer & guitarist

  • "It was a master class in finger style and harmony singing. One of many highlights — for me — was Mark's solo fusion of 'Whiter Shade of Pale' and Bach's 'Air on a G String.' Simply breathtaking."

    Don Hurley
    Ruskin House Folk Club, Croyden, UK

  • "Mark's guitar playing is exemplary, breathtaking at times, and Cindy has a wonderful voice. The rapport with the audience creates something very special: it is almost a communion."

    Tony Streeter
    Ragged Trousered Folk, Hastings, UK