Mark Kassa
Mark Kassa is a Grammy Awards voting member and a multi-award-winning guitarist and producer based in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Musicians Institute Music College in Hollywood, California and has been named “Guitar Player of the Year” by a UK’s Prestige Awards Publication for 2023/2024. His band Slight Return®, which he founded in 1995, was named “Band of the Year” for 2022/2023 and Mark has been featured on the cover of the publication for consecutive years. He has had over 20 songs on the first round Grammy Awards ballot and 2 songs on the first round Latin Grammy Ballot. He has produced, written, performed live, and recorded over a dozen Slight Return® albums with numerous well-known musicians across different genres, including George Clinton (Parliament/Funkadelic) , Billy Cox (Jimi Hendrix), Dennis Coffey (Motown Funk Bros), Peter Keys (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Tony Green (Snoop Dogg, Dr Dre) , Tony Lindsay (11x Grammy Award Winner), Andy Vargas (Santana), legendary drummer Dennis Chambers (P-Funk, Santana, Steely Dan) , Derek St Holmes (Ted Nugent), Norwood Fisher (Fishbone), Juma Sultan (Jimi Hendrix/Woodstock) , Davey Pattison (Robin Trower), Pete Thompson (Robert Plant), Kenny Olson (Kid Rock, Band of Gypsys Returns), Glenn Letsch (Ronnie Montrose) , Lance Lopez (Supersonic Blues Machine/Buddy Miles), Jim McCarty (Buddy Miles Experss/Cactus/Mitch Ryder/The Rockets), Victor Ghannam (National Arab Orchestra), renowned Seattle producers Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden) and Chris Hanzsek (Deep Six Album) ,producer Jim Diamond (Jack White/White Stripes), Henri Brown (Experience Hendrix Tour), The Woodward Horns , and others.
Mark is a District Advocate for the Recording Academy (Grammy Awards) representing the State of Michigan and has been a Grammy in the Schools Music and Grammy U Music Mentor several times. He is endorsed by the Shin-ei Univibe Company alongside greats like Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Doyle Bramhall II, is the co-founder of Axis Music Academy, has been the featured artist at many seminars and clinics, including a masterclass at the Detroit Institute of Music Education, and has had 4 songs in the DRT Global Charts. He has been featured in several publications/Television shows including the Fox 2 Detroit, WWJ Radio, WLLZ Radio, WCSX Radio, Las Vegas-Unphiltered Radio, The Mitch Albom Show, UK‘s Prestige Awards , The Jimi Hendrix Management Institute, Blabbermouth.net, Billboard’s Grammy Preview Edition, Dbusiness Magazine, The Aluminator, Metal Shock (Finland), SF Bands, The Chaldean News, The Bottom Line and more. His music has been highlighted in several pro sports arenas/radio and tv programs including “France’s Got Talent”, the “Go Big Show”, the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Pistons, Detroit Tigers and University of Detroit.
Mark’s band Slight Return® has played live shows with many national acts, including CCR, Tesla, Grand Funk Railroad, Gin Blossoms, Robin Trower, Huey Lewis, Queensryche, The Rockets, John Waite, Sponge, George Clinton, Morris Day and the Time, Derek St Holmes, Bumblefoot, Mitch Ryder, Sponge, Eddie Money, Rare Earth and others at venues such as The Pine Knob Music Amphitheater, Freedom Hill Amphitheater, Sound Board Theater, Jimmy John’s Stadium, Newport Music Hall, Kalamazoo State Theater, The Laz-Y-Boy Theater, Henry Ford Museum, Orbit Room, Lexington Theater, Comcast Concert TV, The Mitch Albom Show, Motor City Casino, MGM Casino, DePaul University, Michael Guido Theater, and numerous festivals.
Mark has leadership skills and has been the musical director and house band for the “For Love of Buddy Miles” (19 musician) concert that featured top national touring musicians including Derek St Holmes, Peter Keys, Kenny Olson, Tony Lindsay, Juma Sultan, Henri Brown, Jim McCarty, Dennis Chambers and a host of others along with a 4pc horn section. He was also the music director and house band for Tucker Carlson’s Michigan appearance at Jimmy John’s Stadium, the Associated Food Dealers, the Chaldean Festival, the DMAN Foundation and America’s Safety First.
He is the Chairman of the Advisory Board for Middle Eastern America Television (MEA TV) , The Healing Arts of the Little Flower and is an Executive Board Member of the DMAN Foundation, Salute Our Warriors, America Safety First, Folktellers Studios , Creek Music Group, and is a Fellow for the Royal Society of Arts in London, UK. His past leadership roles include: Board Member of the Chaldean Chamber of Commerce, Music Director for the Associated Food Dealers of Michigan, and Chairman of the Chaldean Festival. He is also the creator, writer and host of his TV Show “Welcome to the D”, and owns Federally Registered Trademarks in 14 categories with a full line of music and apparel attached to the brands.
Mark is extensively involved in charitable work and philanthropy and has volunteered and donated his time and financial support to many charitable including: The DMAN Foundation, Fallen & Wounded Soldiers Fund, Grace Centers of Hope for Women and Children, United Youth 2000, St. Dominic’s, St. Aloysius, St. Fabian, Chaldean Ladies of Charity, Adopt a Refugee, Walk for the Cure, Forgotten Harvest, High Five Turkey Drive, Relay for Life, Horace Sheffield III – Sheffield Food Pantry- Detroit, MI, St. Vincent De Paul, Detroit Catholic Central, The Kim Center, Cass Community Services, Fraternite De Notre Dame, Michigan Animal Welfare Foundation, United Youth 2000, and many others.