Mark Bowen started his musical career in High School as a blues lead guitarist. Born and raised in Kalamazoo and currently living in the Lansing Michigan area his wide ranging interests have spanned everything from music to theater and from artistic to business pursuits. Mark took up the bass guitar in late 1969 trading his 6 string electric for a Dan Electro 4 string to play with a rock and roll power trio. He returned to the 6 string electric during 1970 for a short stint as a song writer and rhythm player only to once again trade instruments with the bass player from his then current band. He thought at the time that job security was better for bass players because there were fewer of them than there were 6 stringers and the parts were simpler. He never looked back and has devoted the musical part of his life to the complete exploration of the bass instrument.

Although he sought originally simpler parts to play his history on the instrument has always been one of complexity and energy. A devotee of the funk style of playing with strong underpinnings from both blues and Jazz Fusion, he continues to be fascinated with the beat and the responsibility that the bass has in any rhythm section.

Mark joined Maya eager to finally learn music the way educated musicians knew it. His affection for the group is without bound and his respect for those who he has no hesitation in calling his mentors is equally abundant. Mark's musical credentials outside of Maya are not something he even likes to talk about. Yes he's played with his share of musical notables and been proud to be a part of a number of groups, particularly in Michigan, who added dramatically to his musical education.

After leaving Sweet Maya 's last iteration Mark moved to Stamford Connecticut where he abandoned music as a profession and went to work in his next love, business. Working for Pitney Bowes in the Stamford headquarters for 11 years he climbed the corporate ladder to eventually hold executive positions in the company's communications unit. After leaving PB in the late 1980s he returned to Michigan and took a position running a communications, marketing and production firm in Lansing . He has been successful as a marketing and marketing communications consultant as well as a recognized expert in the marketing of telecommunications services.

Currently Mark is the head of the marketing communications unit for TDS Metrocom and continues to cause trouble for his competitors with advertising that can only be described as over-the-top funny. For this work alone he has garnered 8 Addy's and 6 Telly awards. Mark is married the second time to his lovely wife Ronelle and together they are the proud parents of six children and even prouder grandparents of six more.

Although his current career pursuit involve an intense amount of energy and time he is delighted that he can carve out enough to realize his life long dream of strolling the stage again with his other family… Sweet Maya .