Biography

Mark Allen Gresham was born in the year 1952 to Bill and Ruth Gresham at the Telfair hospital of Savannah, GA. Two loving parents and a whole lifetime lay waiting in front of him. Eight years would pass before he experienced guitars for the first time, but the impression would be lasting. No one knew then that when he received his first guitar from his Uncle Charley it would create what would be a lifelong love and respect for music and all of its opportunities.

When he became of age Mark joined the Air Force and was stationed in England. Here he would meet Vic Cooper, this encounter spurred an interest in the construction of instruments. How they were developed, what came of the hard, long work, and the priceless end result, all fascinated him. From this moment on he could not shake it, a passion had developed for the beauty that one man could create by a little sweat and his hands. Soon Mark was transferred to Minot, ND where he discover yet another lifelong love, Cherie Marie Carter, not long after she was to become Cherie Marie Gresham. Mark now had the love of his life, the passion for instruments, and the world at his feet.

In the late 1980’s, Charlie Saxon, a close friend, brought the idea to the table that he and Mark try their hand in building guitars, S & G guitars was born. There were five guitars built under the name of S & G. Charlie had assisted Mark in kick starting a long awaited dream. Building instruments had been his passion and now his reality. In the mid- 1990’s Mark did some work on a few mandolins belonging Barry Kratzer. After which, Barry approached him with the idea of a partnership. Now they were to become K & G mandolins. Their second mandolin ever built was given to Mr. Don Rigsby, who in turn endorsed the K & G name. During the time of K & G there were roughly 42 mandolins developed. Owners of some of these instruments are Don Rigsby of the Lonesome River Band, John Rigsby of Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Allen Bybee of the Blueridge Band, and Shawn Lane of the band Blue Highway.

The 90’s were coming to an end and Mark was leaning more toward wanting to develop an extended line of guitars with which to reach a broader musical community. The last K & G was built in 2000 and commemorated as the millennium guitar and is still owned by Twiggs Kelly. The new millennium came with many changes. There would be a separation of Mark and his dear friend, Barry Kratzer. Barry and his lovely wife, Sabine, are now building wonderful mandolins under the new name of “Bulldog Instruments”. Mark was also approached by renowned mandolin builder, Randy Wood, to assist with his repair operations and to date, this friendship and working relationship continues. Before the end of the year 2000, instruments built here would bear his family name, Gresham Guitars and Mandolins was born. In the years since 2000, Mark has increased his line of instruments to include four new models of acoustic guitars and two new models of resonator guitars. In 2004 our children, Joshua and Chrissy, completed their their high school educations and left the nest. Cherie had developed a desire to play the Upright Bass, and in 2005, Mark surprised her with a new Bass for her birthday. Now Mark does the three things he enjoys most: building beautiful instruments, jamming with his wife and friends and hugging necks.

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