HOw will Mark be remembered?

[Millionaire Blues]

When Mark passes on hopefully in a very long time, what do you thihnk his legacy will be?

In 200 years will he be looked upon in the same light as say Mozart or Beethoven?

I worry that his low key approach to everything will lead to him not being remembered in the correct way....................as the greatest musician popular music has ever seen!

XXXXX

[jacki]

It seems that great artists are suddenly remembered AFTER they are gone, but judging by the fact that MK consistently sold out or nearly sold out so many of his concerts this last time around, I don't think we need worry that he won't be remembered as anything but the consummate artist that he is...and as he underplays his philanthropic works, that may not come out fully until later. Because he doesn't toot his own horn, less people are aware of him...but I really doubt he will be lost to history. The real artists don't fade away.

[xxFordiexx]

Yeah and I have made sure that my kids who are 8 and 10 will continue the legacy to their children

My daughter who is 8 said to me in the car the other day that Mark Knopfler writes all the best songs lol!!!

Her favs are Walk Of Life, Twisting by the Pool, Why aye Man, Silvertown Blues and loads of others.

I have another baby who is due in March next year too so will drum Mark's music into her/him too!

That hopefully will keep Mark's legacy going for at least another 100 years

Seriously though he can never be forgotten as his music and awards and records will be documented and listened to forever

[jacki]

Fordie, lean your tummie up against the speakers and play him/her a private concert!

[mrnybluesman]

This is a very interesting question....I gave it some thought before answering.  On this board everyone will answer the same...but there are other things to be considered to give an honest answer. There are prejudices to overcome...people who do not like a certain type of music have a tendency to dismiss the artist...it has come to my attention that people are not subjective when it comes to their favorite artist....I have always felt if the music makes you feel...no matter what type it is...then it is a good thing. I play a little guitar..and I have my list of guitarists who make me feel...who I think are or were the best of their time for me...it was what moved me..what made me feel.  There are other guitarists who I admire greatly for the skills...but I do not like their music..or the tone..or whatever.  Then there are the generation gaps. Then there are the critics..which I never could understand..just because someone likes or dislikes something is that the gospel? Aren't I allowed to decide for myself? This is just a short list of questions to be considered about how an artist will be perceived down the road. For me...Mark goes down as one of the greatest musician's of his time...for his playing...his compositions...the film scores...his tone...I never get tired of listening to him and always hear something new each time I listen.  One of the few musician's who reach down into my soul and can actually take me away with his music.

[qjamesfloyd]

It's hard to say how Mark will be remembered, but as like has just happened to Richard Wright, we all die sometime.
Mark will be rememeberd of course as one of the greatest guitar players who has ever lived, the fact he taught himself to play, and that he is left handed but plays right handed guitar, also that he plays almost always with fingers, which is unusual for a rock player.

He will also be remembered as one of the worlds greatest songwriters, in the early days of DS and upto Brothers in Amrs, it was easy to just get carried away with his guitar playing, and not really consider the songwriting, but if you listen to the songs they are very well written aswell, not just the music but the words too, as a former paper reporter, he is very well read, spoken and literate, and his lyrics are always insightfull, full of true stories, about the world he sees, and his own life, although he doesn't get to personal.

He will also be remembered as a great session man, having played with some of the other worlds great musicians, always adding something to the recordings, with his unique guitar sound and approach to playing.

But perhaps the best thing he could be remembere for, is for being a genuine and kind man, in an industry that is so full of not nice people, and big heads, he stands heads and shoulders above most of them.

He is a true star, a dying breed, not just someone of a reality TV show who thinks they are a star.

[Waterline Man]

Well,for all of us here & on MK fan sites all over the world he will never be forgotten but to the ordinary Joe soap on the streets he's still yer man from Dire Straits!A lot of people wouldnt know to much about his solo career or his association with music composition for the various films unless they were told that it was an MK production.

I remember when Roy Orbison died in the late 80's,people were saying he's yer man from the traveling wilburys not knowing that he had a very successful solo career for years before that.He was definitely one person that was more famous as a dead artist than when he was alive,everyone was going out buying his "best of" for months after.

I would imagine MK will be remembered as a brilliant guitarist who fronted Dire Straits by the vast majority of people.Obviously his music means a lot more to us & we will always remember him with more enthusiasm  - he will always be the man in our eyes

[Jules]

I think it will be remembered by the record Brothers in arms and very quickly forgot by everybody except his fans 

And it

[qjamesfloyd]

Sorry, i can't agree with that, Mark will not be forgotten, if only because he is very important in the history of the guitar for many reasons, but his songs will go on.

But then again listen to My Claim To Fame:
"In 100 years your gonna hear him play, they won't remember me for working hard"
So, maybe Mark is'nt to conifdent about his legacy,lol.