Mark Bego is the author of over 50 best-selling books on rock & roll and show business, including two "New York Times" Best Sellers, a "Los Angeles Times" Best Seller, and a "Chicago Tribune" Best Seller, three million-sellers, and two half-million selling titles. With over 10 million books in print, he is acknowledged as the best-selling biographer in the rock and pop music field. His biographies have included the life stories of some of the biggest stars of ROCK (Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Bonnie Raitt, The Doobie Brothers, Three Dog Night, Billy Joel), SOUL (Aretha Franklin, The Supremes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston), POP (Sonny & Cher, The Monkees, Sade, Barry Manilow), and COUNTRY (George Strait, Patsy Cline, Alan Jackson, Vince Gill). He has also written about film and television stars as well (Rock Hudson, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DeCaprio, Will Smith, Matt Damon, The Marx Brothers).

Mark's record-breaking 50th book has just been released: "Billy Joel: The Biography" (Thunder's Mouth Press June 2007). Amongst the dozens of Joel intimates and media experts interviewed for Bego's comprehensive biography of "The Piano Man" include the three key former members of Joel's hit-producing band: Liberty DeVitto (drummer), Richie Cannata (sax player), and Russell Javors (guitar). In addition, Bego also interviewed several media stars including Mary Wilson, Micky Dolenz, Melanie, Lou Christie, Lala Brooks (The Crystals), Randy Jones (Village People), and Deborah Gibson. Some people love Billy, some people hate him, and they have a voice in "Billy Joel: The Biography."

Two of Bego's latest rock-star biographies are "Jackson Browne: His Life and Music" (2005 Citadel / Kensington Publishing), and "Joni Mitchell" (2005 Taylor Books). According to Mark, "I am thrilled to have Jackson and Joni as two of my book subjects. Their careers are intertwined with each other, and with several of my other books as well. Bonnie Raitt has recorded many of Browne's songs in the past, and Joni wrote one of her most controversial songs, 'Not to Blame,' about Jackson's headline-making break-up with Daryl Hannah. There isn't a current female rock performer on the charts who has not listed Joni Mitchell as one of their strongest influences." A painter for many decades, Mark's book on Joni also contains his own original portrait of the famed singer.

As Martha Reeve's collaborator on her best-selling autobiography, Mark was a natural choice to pen the liner notes for the new 2005 Motown Select album: "Martha Reeves & The Vandellas: SPELLBOUND / Lost & Found." The two disc set contains over 40 previously unreleased songs by Martha & her Vandellas. The album is available for purchase through www.MotownSelect.com. Mark also wrote the liner notes for 2006's "Martha Reeves & The Vandellas GOLD" CD (Motown / Universal Music).

Mark has recently branched out creatively into launching his own line of gold, silver, and gemstone jewelry. Working with jewelers in both Tucson and New York City, Bego's new jewelry designs include rings, necklaces, and bracelets, all gem-encrusted, each with a bold and colorful style. He has been designing jewelry since the 1960s, and he decided that the time was right in 2005 to make his custom made creations available to the public.

In addition, Mark Expanded into doing rock & roll news on Clear Channel radio station, WNNJ in New Jersey, from July to December of 2005.  He enjoyed his six-month run on WNNJ so much that he is currently working on producing his own

In 2006 Mark branched out in the authorized autobiography field by writing a compelling good with noted psychic-to-the-stars, Yolana Bard.  Their collaboration became the critically acclaimed book, “Yolana: Just One More Question.” (Putnam Books).

Bego is currently working on several new book projects. One of them is a forthcoming memoir based on his own rock & roll career adventures with “Paperback Writer.” His co-stars in the book include Katherine Hepburn, Mary Wilson, The Temptations, Cher, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Three Dog Night, Angela Bowie, and Andy Warhol.  Another work-in-progress is a historic look at the disco era written with Randy Jones, the original cowboy of the group Village People, on Jones' autobiography, tentatively entitled “Macho Man: The Disco Era and America’s Coming Out.”

Mark just finished writing the book “Fike: Uncommon Journey.”  It is poised to be one of the most unique and controversial Elvis Presley-themed biographies ever written.  It is an in-depth memoir of of one of Elvis’s closest friends and confidantes, Lamar Fike.  For 23 years was a key figure in the legendary Presley entourage: “The Memphis Mafia.”  Lamar refers to this gather of a dozen Elvis desciples as “The Group.”  In addition, “Fike: An Uncommon Journey” also encompasses Lamar’s association with Errol Flynn, Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr., Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan, Brenda Lee, Patsy Cline, Dean Martin, Rock Hudson, Joan Crawford, and Elizabeth Taylor, to name a few.

In 2003 AMI Books released Mark's "Julia Roberts: America's Sweetheart." That same year Taylor Publishing released his hardcover biography "Tina Turner: Break Every Rule." So much had happened in Tina's fascinating life since she released her own autobiography two decades ago, that the time had finally come for a book that encompassed her entire career-right up through her record-breaking "Farewell" concert tour in the year 2000, and beyond.

Mark's "Bette Midler: Still Divine" hit bookstores in the fall of 2002. It is a fully expanded version of his 1986 book "Bette Midler: Outrageously Divine." Amongst the people interviewed and included in the new book are Barry Manilow, and the composers of her signature song-"Friends"-Buzzy Linhart and Moogy Klingman, and producer Brooks Arthur. It also features an introduction penned by Rita Coolidge.

"Cher: If You Believe" started out as an update of Mark's 1986 biography "Cher!" (Pocket Books), but it was expanded into a new hardcover biography which encompasses Cher's emergence as an Academy Award-winning actress ("Moonstruck"), Sonny Bono's tragic 1998 death, and her 1999 major comeback with the hit single "Believe." After the death of Sonny Bono in January of 1998, Mark was seen on "Sally Jesse Raphael" during their tribute to the pop icon. Also in 2001, Oldcastle Books in London, England published Mark's guide to the films of "The Marx Brothers."

Madonna has been one of Mark's most famous-and most frequent-book subjects. His 1985 biography "Madonna!" (Pinnacle Books) sold a million copies, as the first book on the singing sensation. In 1992 Harmony Books published Mark's biography "Madonna: Blonde Ambition," based on his personal interviews with Madonna and several of her intimate friends. Swept up in the controversy of Madonna's "Sex" book, Mark appeared on several national television shows, discussing the whole Madonna phenomenon, including: "The Joan Rivers Show," "Maury Povich," "Hard Copy," "Faith Daniels," and "Entertainment Tonight." Bego is the on-camera host of the 1993 hour-long biographical video cassette entitled "Madonna: The Name Of The Game." He is also featured on the A&E network's "Biography" series about the life of Madonna which has been frequently aired since its debut in 1993.

Mark's 2000 paperback version of "Madonna: Blonde Ambition--Updated Edition" features nearly 100 more pages, following the former Material Girl into her starring role in the award-winning film musical "Evita," motherhood, and her first new projects of the new millennium--including the film "Next Best Thing" and the international hit "American Pie."

In social critic Camille Paglia's 1994 hit book, "Vamps And Tramps," she devotes an entire chapter to Bego and his "Madonna: Blonde Ambition." According to Paglia, "The strongest of several biographies [on Madonna] is by Mark Bego, 'Madonna: Blonde Ambition'...Bego is the author of more than twenty celebrity biographies, many of whose subjects have been singers--among them Barry Manilow, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Cher, Bette Midler, and Aretha Franklin. 'Madonna: Blonde Ambition' profits from his deep familiarity with the modern music industry, whose commercial dynamic he understands without condemning or excusing it."

In 2001, DaCapo Press published Mark's classic "Aretha Franklin: Queen of Soul" with an elaborate updating chapter. It is acknowledged as the definitive biography on Aretha.

His full-color illustrated biography of the hottest male movie star of 1998: "Leonardo DiCaprio: Romantic Hero" (John Boswell / Andrews McMeel / 1998) became a Top Ten "New York Times" Best-Seller when it was released in April of 1998. It has also published in several foreign editions, including German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Slovenian, and British.

Mark followed up the success with the Leonardo DiCaprio book on two more full-color biographies also published by Andrews/McMeel: "Matt Damon: Chasing A Dream" (September 1998) and "Will Smith" (October 1998). Also debuting in the bookstores in 1998 was Bego's biography of Alaskan-born folk singer "Jewel" (Music Sales Press/July 1998).

Bego is often featured on entertainment TV shows. Mark is one of the stars of five separate episodes of the E! Entertainment network's "True Hollywood Stories," which are frequently rebroadcast. These episodes centered around The Monkees (two hours), the marriage of Sean Penn and Madonna (one hour), Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown (two hours), Diana Ross (one hour), and Cher (two hours). In 2001 he was also seen on E!'s "Mysteries and Scandals," speaking of the tragic death of Supreme star Florence Ballard. He is also frequently seen on the BBC and other British network stations.

Seven of his books are the colorful life stories of a pair of the hugest stars of country music, including: "Alan Jackson: Gone Country" (Taylor Publishing/1996) and "George Strait: The Story Of Country's Living Legend" (Kensington/ 1997), and in his biography of "LeAnn Rimes" (St. Martin's/1998). His "Vince Gill," joined the list in 2000 (Renaissance Books).

His 1995 book "I Fall to Pieces: The Music and The Life Of Patsy Cline" (Adams Media Corporation), dealt with the life of the most beloved country singer of all times. According to "Country Weekly" magazine (August 29, 1995), "Mark Bego never fails to keep the tragic but triumphant Patsy Cline at the center of his focused look at the passionate artist and her extraordinary life...'I Fall to Pieces' is engrossing, informative...and entertaining." E! Entertainment Network On-Line, in the fall of 2000 named Mark's Patsy Cline biography, "I Fall to Pieces: The Music and the Life of Patsy Cline" one their Top Ten Best Music Biographies of all-times.

In 1994 Pinnacle/Zebra Books published his book "Country Gals," featuring the life stories of Reba McEntire, Wynonna Judd, Dolly Parton, Tanya Tucker, k. d. lang, and several of the hottest women in country music today. At the same time, Contemporary Books published his book "Country Hunks" spotlighting Vince Gill, Billy Ray Cyrus, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn, Alan Jackson, George Strait, Clint Black, and several of Nashville's most revered male stars.

The "Tucson Citizen" featured Bego on the cover of its entertainment section (March 3, 1997), with regard to his transition from rock to country. In the article, music writer A.J. Flick declared, "Rock 'n' Roll's biggest selling biographer has gone country...Mark Bego is tops in rock 'n' roll and pop biographies according to 'Publisher's Weekly'...Bego, who has written for fan magazines, uses an objective voice in his biographies...(he) understands the attraction of country music."

Mark's 1996 reference book "Rock & Roll Almanac" was released in April of 1996 by Prentice Hall. It is a combination of fascinating facts ("Every Pertinent Rock & Roll, Pop, and Soul Grammy Winner; "Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame Inductees;" "Rock & Roll Birthdays"), off-the-wall lists ("The 10 Juiciest Rock & Roll Scandals," "The Most Famous Rock Festivals," "Best Cross-Dressing Rock Stars"), as well as biographies of "14 Of The Most Important Acts In Rock History" (The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Supremes, Joni Mitchell, Fleetwood Mac, and nine others). Bego was seen discussing the book on national television on ABC-TV's "Day And Date" in May of 1996. Bego is currently in negotiations to turn this book into a radio and TV show.

In November of 1996, Mainstream Publishing of Edinburgh, Scotland released Mark's book "Raised On Rock: The Autobiography of Elvis Presley's Stepbrother" with David Stanley. It contains a first hand look at what it was like to grow up in rock & roll's most famous dysfunctional family-starting with Elvis, and concluding with the bizarre marriage of David's step-niece, Lisa Marie Presley, to Michael Jackson.

His biography "Bonnie Raitt: Just In The Nick Of Time" was published by Birch Lane Press in December 1995. The very first biography on the fascinating life of nine-time Grammy Award winning Raitt, Bego's biography features an in-depth look at the singer's triumph over drugs and liquor, and her 20-year rise to the top of the charts. The book includes an introduction by Bonnie's lifelong idol, Joan Baez. Bego was seen on national television, on "Geraldo" in April 1996, discussing Raitt's fascinating life, and on CNN's "Show Business Today" talking about his book. In July 1996, B&B Audio released "Bonnie Raitt: Just In The Nick Of Time" as a two cassette book-on-tape, as read by Mark Bego. An updated version hit the stores in early 2003 from Cooper Square, under the title "Bonnie Raitt: STILL In The Nick Of Time."

Hyperion books released Bego's collaboration with Martha Reeves of Martha & The Vandellas, "Dancing In The Street: Confessions Of A Motown Diva" in 1994, and it spent five weeks in the Top Ten of "The Chicago Tribune" hardcover Best Seller list. It was released in August 1995 in a trade paperback edition. In its review of the book, The New York Times found it "filled with loving affection, the requisite amount of score settling and many stories...about Motown...told with good humor." "Publisher's Weekly" proclaimed it "Poignant...Reeves recounts both the excitement and the energy of Motown in its heyday...she emerges as a stoic and likable survivor!"

Mark Bego has written his first full-length novel, a music industry murder mystery entitled "Motor City Murder." It is set in a record company, it has the excitement and glitziness of Motown in it's heyday, in a fictional setting. This was originally to be a project with Mary Wilson.

Mark worked with Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, on Dolenz' autobiography, "I'm A Believer: My Life of Music, Monkees and Madness." Published in 1993 by Hyperion Books, the book traces Dolenz' life and career from TV's "Circus Boy," through the three decade Monkees saga. It has become the biggest selling book on the beloved 1960's rock & roll phenomenon of a group. "USA Today" described the book as "Memorable Monkee-shines...[a] primal scream!" "Booklist" found it "surprising" and "star-studded." In 2004 a new edition was released with an updating chapter by Mark, from Cooper Square.

Known throughout the 1980's as a top writer of "unauthorized" pop bios, at the end of the decade he made the transition into celebrity collaborations. In 1989-1990 he worked with teenage star Debbie Gibson, penning her autobiography, "Between The Lines." Also in 1990 he was one of the writers to assist Mary Wilson of The Supremes on her book "Supreme Faith: Someday We'll Be Together." During this same era, Bego teamed up with Jimmy Greenspoon, the keyboard player for legendary rock group Three Dog Night, yielding the book "One Is The Loneliest Number" (Pharos Books/1991). A compelling story of a dramatic life lived behind the scenes in rock & roll. In it Greenspoon also chronicled his ten-year heroin addiction.

Bego's biggest selling book was his 1984 biography of Michael Jackson, Michael! (Pinnacle Books). Released the week that Jackson caught his hair on fire filming a Pepsi commercial, Michael! sold three million copies in seven languages, and it spent six weeks in the Top Ten of "The New York Times best-seller list, and the "Los Angeles Times" best-seller list. He followed it up by attending 30 of The Jacksons sold-out Victory Tour shows to yield the million-selling On The Road With Michael! Mark was the first person to discuss Jacksons weird fascination with plastic surgery on national television, on "Thicke Of The Night."

In He also wrote the first published book on movie star Rock Hudson. Begos Rock Hudson: Public & Private sold half a million copies when it was released in 1986.

Also in 1986, PaperJacks Books published his TV Rock, the history of rock & roll on television. His other books include Whitney! [Houston], Sade!, Julian Lennon!, The Linda Gray Story, and several more. His biography of rap star Vanilla Ice, Ice Ice Ice: The Extraordinary Vanilla Ice sold over half a million copies when it was published by Dell in 1991.

Mark's writing has appeared in several magazines, including "People," "US," "The Star," "Celebrity, "Cosmopolitan," "Penthouse," "Billboard," "Record World," and "The National Enquirer." From 1978 to 1980 he was the "Nightlife Editor" of New York Citys CUE magazine, covering all of the hottest jazz clubs, discos and nightclubs. He also wrote cover stories in Cue magazine from his interviews with Cher, Rod Stewart, and Donna Summer. From 1983 to 1985 he was the Editor-In-Chief of Modern Screen magazine. From 1996 to 1997 Mark was the Film Editor for country musics TWANG magazine. Begos book "The Best of Modern Screen" (St. Martins Press/1986) took a look at Hollywood in its heyday, from the 30s to the 50s, and featured an introduction by Debbie Reynolds.

Mark divides his time between New York City, Los Angeles, and Tucson, Arizona.