Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler is a British singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who rose to fame as the frontman and lead guitarist of the rock band Dire Straits. Knopfler was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1949, and his family moved to Newcastle upon Tyne when he was nine years old. He started playing guitar at an early age, and went on to study journalism at the University of Leeds. After graduation, he joined Dire Straits in 1977 and wrote most of the band’s material, playing lead guitar and singing lead vocals.

Dire Straits' breakthrough album was their 1978 self-titled debut, which featured the single "Sultans of Swing." The band went on to release five more studio albums, including the multi-platinum Brothers in Arms in 1985, before disbanding in 1995. As a solo artist, Knopfler has released nine studio albums, including his most recent, Down the Road Wherever, in 2018.

Some of Knopfler's standout songs include "Sultans of Swing," "Romeo and Juliet," "Money for Nothing," "Private Investigations," and "Why Aye Man."

An interesting fact about Mark Knopfler is that he was a part-time music teacher before joining Dire Straits. He taught guitar and music theory at two schools in London, as well as giving private lessons.