"Mark Lettieri, though a young cat, is of a dying breed, a gent whose playing is difficult to pigeonhole, though it shows antecedents in the less known work of some great players...cats like Larry Carlton and Lee Ritenour, also session men and soloists whose least lauded work is their best. Those guys can fuse rock, jazz, and prog like no one's business when they've a mind to, but Lettieri does so with even greater freedom and fluidity.”
- M.S. Tucker, FAME Reviews
"Anyone who hasn't heard of Texas-based guitarist Mark Lettieri will wonder why upon listening to his debut CD, Knows. A seasoned and versatile session player, Lettieri grew up in California listening to the wide range of iconic bands that emerged from the state during the 1970s, from Steely Dan to Van Halen. Now based in the same Dallas/Fort Worth area that produced Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan, the guitarist fuses all of those influences and beyond into his own unique synthesis.”
- Bill Meredith, Abstract Logix
“It's a trio-quartet setting and a platform for Lettieri's good sense and interesting written launching pads. It’s beyond cliche and it shows you what he's got, which is some chops but a musical mind that works in ways that make the music worth hearing. It's not technically astute fireworks in the end. It's music. Here's a cat that's got something really nice going!”
- Gapplegate Guitar and Bass Blog
“You can pick out a lot of influences on this guitar man’s second jazz rocker but what it all comes down to is someone getting his Zappa on. Playing from the heart, this isn't rip off, tribute or homage, it’s just a cat that wants to shut up and play his guitar before it wants to kill your momma.”
- Chris Spector, Midwest Record
• Currently has over 160,000 followers on Instagram, with video posts receiving 40,000+ views on average
• 2020 Grammy win for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for the album Live At Royal Albert Hall, as a member of Snarky Puppy
• 2019 Album "Deep: The Baritone Sessions" Debuted on Billboard Magazine's Jazz Album chart at #21
• 2017 Grammy win for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for the album Culcha Vulcha, as a member of Snarky Puppy
• 2016 Grammy win for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album for the album Sylva, as a member of Snarky Puppy
• 2014 Grammy Award Winner for Best R&B Performance (Snarky Puppy with Lalah Hathaway)
Mark Lettieri is a guitarist, composer, and producer based in Fort Worth, TX. Proficient in a multitude of styles, he records and performs in virtually every genre of popular music with both independent and major label artists. He also composes and produces original instrumental music under his own name.
Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Lettieri came to Texas via Texas Christian University (TCU), studying advertising and public relations, and competing in track and field. A passionate guitarist since middle school, he began his music career in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex area upon graduating from TCU.
Playing in the vibrant Metroplex gospel and R&B scene led Lettieri to join jazz / world group Snarky Puppy in 2008, where he contributes as guitarist, as well as arranger and composer. The group has earned three GRAMMY Awards: Best R&B Performance for "Something" feat. Lalah Hathaway in 2014, and twice for Best Contemporary Instrumental Album (Sylva in 2016, and Culcha Vulcha in 2017). Snarky Puppy tours constantly, having performed on every continent except Antarctica.
Outside of Snarky Puppy, Lettieri has released five albums as a leader: Knows (2011), Futurefun (2013), Spark and Echo (2016) and most recently, Deep: The Baritone Sessions in (2019). Spark and Echo reached #11 on Billboard's Jazz Albums Chart, and #2 on iTunes' Jazz Chart, with Deep debuting at #21 on the Billboard Jazz Albums Chart. Due in large part to Lettieri’s vibrant social media presence, these records have created a sizable buzz among fans of instrumental music worldwide. He performs this music live with the Mark Lettieri Trio, featuring Wes Stephenson (Funky Knuckles) on bass and Jason “JT” Thomas (Snarky Puppy, Forq) on drums. Deep: The Baritone Sessions Vol. 2 in (2021) reached #2 on iTunes' Jazz Chart and was created during the pandemic it is a triumph of ingenuity built upon Lettieri’s life-long love of funk and rock. For the album Lettieri layed down multiple guitar parts and bassists Wes Stephenson, Daric Bennett and Braylon Lacy recording at their respective homes, the majority of the drum parts, except for Robert “Sput” Searight who also recorded at his home, were done in separate studios — Jason “JT” Thomas in Farmers Branch, Texas, Nate Smith in Nashville, Adam Deitch in Denver, TaRon Lockett in Los Angeles. “The horns on ‘Star Catchers’ were done in different parts of the world,” the guitarist explained. “Philip Lassiter arranged the piece in Holland then sent the parts to the other fellows spread out all over the globe — one in Europe, one in Brooklyn, one on the West Coast. My keyboard player on that track, Justin Stanton, was in Portugal. Steve Lukather recorded his solo at his son’s studio in L.A. We had everybody all over the place on that track.”
In 2018, Lettieri joined up with Vulpeck spin off group The Fearless Flyers, featuring Cory Wong and Joe Dart of Vulfpeck on guitar and bass respectively, and drummer Nate Smith (Chris Potter, Pat Metheny) The quartet has released two EPs, The Fearless Flyers in 2018, and The Fearless Flyers II in 2019.
As an in demand session guitarist and touring sideman, Lettieri has logged miles with neo soul icon Erykah Badu, gospel singer Anthony Evans, and American Idol: Season 11 winner Phillip Phillips. He's also performed with a myriad of other artists, including Nelly, Anthony Evans, Chrisette Michele, Myron Butler, N'dambi, Bilal, and even comedians Dave Chappelle and Harry Shearer.
Recent recording work includes David Crosby, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Adam Levine, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Bob Reynolds, Tori Kelly, Ledisi, Tamela Mann, Eric Roberson, Lecrae, Lupe Fiasco, Keyshia Cole, Xzibit, as well as numerous radio and television jingles. Lettieri is also a member of SKP, a production collective led by GRAMMY Award winning producer Symbolyc One (Kanye West, Beyonce).
He can also be seen on television, in the house band for the Marcus & Joni Show, a Christian morning talk / variety show broadcast in over 200 countries Daystar Television Network.
Lettieri serves as a clinician and gear demonstrator, often on behalf of companies he endorses; namely J. Rockett Audio Designs, Supro, Grosh, Collings, Paul Reed Smith, Jim Dunlop, and TC Electronic.
He resides with his wife, daughter, and two cats.