JOURNEY WITH MUSIC BY MARK

My journey started sometime in 1988, when I got my first computer, an Amiga. What made me decide on an Amiga?  
It started when I used to work for a company that manufactures function generators,  My then-supervisor, Craig, and our lead technician, Stan, had Amigas.  They got me interested and then I would go to various computer stores to look into getting a computer.  
My choices narrowed down to an Amiga or an Atari ST.  Both had their advantages and disadvantges. After weighing in on all the options, I got an Amiga 500. 
As I learned how to use my new toy, I would try several different music programs, until I finally decided to use a program entitled SONIX.  It gave me a idea of music notation so I learned a lot from that, and I have created a lot of music with it.
Later that year, I was introduced to a music tracker program called Music Editor, or MED for short.  After a few days I finally got the hang of how to create music with it, I was able to create many types of music creations.  I even created some rock songs, though my specifically favorite type of genre is smooth jazz and old-school funk from the 70s. 
Naturally, I was able to share my music with others.  I would purchase a ROLAND MT-32 synth module.  I learned how to implement MIDI to my songs, as it added a bit more realism. 
In 1995 we formed the Amiga User Group led by my friend and fellow musician, Paul.  We had a chance to demonstrate the MED music software.  
In one of our more special meetings, we met with a couple who create music on their public access TV show, Yourself Presents.  I was approached by them to come to their studio to film me playing music on my Amiga.    
In addition, I would meet a lady who led a children's group in their own public access TV show, The Recycle Kids.  I would work with her to create music for their album, and then I got to go with them to Los Angeles to perform their music.  
This also led me to go to a recording studio in Santa Monica, and there I would bring my Amiga and my Roland MT-32 to record music for those kids.  
Eventually I would have access to bulletin board systems, where I would upload a lot of my creations., 
RBF Software, the ones who created MED, created a new software entitled "OCTAMED Soundstudio".   They even included many of my creations.  
Little did I realize I was going to be well known not only in England, but it my own city.  I was buying a KAWAI 140 when the sales associate asked what I use to create music.  When I told him I used an Amiga, he gave me some high praise as he had heard my music. 
The only time I got money for my music was when I created a song for someone's ghost town video, and when I created a song for the Amiga version of BATTLESHIP.   
My brother and I would have a short-lived business where he would do the video editing and artwork (he's a great 3-D artist), while I concentrated on the music side.  I would create background music for the videos.  
Even when Commodore filed for bankruptcy and the Amiga platform was hanging by a fingernail, I kept using my Amiga to create music. 
Even after I got married and later had a daughter, I kept using my Amiga for music.  Despite my ex-wife insist we get a PC (we would), I kept using my Amiga for music.  
Realizing the handwriting on the wall, I would use my PC and a digital audio software to save my Amiga music as WAV files for the PC.  
This I kept doing until my father and step-mother announced they were going to live in an apartment.  No room for me, so i ended up living with a neighbor, who was wiling to store my things.  Somehow I was not able to return back there after I spent time with a Church friend.  Eventually I would end up at a homeless shelter and I never saw my Amiga again.  
Eventually, I would end up finding work, getting money and slowly be able to reach self-reliant status.  A year later I would move to an apartment, where I have lived since. 
Naturally I would be on a very long hiatus from music creation, until 2023 when I got a call from my friend Paul, who now lives in Florida.  He told me I should go back to creating music again.
Determined to relive the dream of creating music again, I would search on the Internet.  That's when I found the BANDLAB site.  I would try it out, and somehow I got really good at it.  I would end up creating 96 songs with it. 
Now I share my music with my friends, and somehow I found that I was not forgotten by those who had Amiga computers.  This led me to attend many workshops for beginning or struggling musicians.  
With all the resources giving to me, I was ready to get my music talents monetized.  My current music is on BANDLAB's web site, where I am currently adding new material.