Mark Evitts

A Kentucky native,^[7] Evitts began his classical music training at age twelve with the Concertmaster of the Paducah Symphony Orchestra, Kathy McCann Gardner. In 1999, he went to Murray State University where he met mandolinist, Chris Thile.^[8] Evitts left Murray State University after only a semester.^[9] In 2006, he began touring with the band Scarlet Kings (previously Oval Opus) until 2009. In 2010, he ventured into film as the musical director and producer for the documentary Newport.^[10] He went back to school to finish his degree and is a 2024 graduate of Berklee College of Music.^[11][12]

In April 2023, Frog and Toad released as a series on Apple TV+, in which Evitts was the composer and songwriter.^[13][14] Speaking of Evitts's original song for the show about Ice Cream, in which Tom Kenny sang the lead, Laura Zornosa of Time said, "It’s an earworm song—one that’s easy to imagine kids requesting again and again."^[15] In December 2024, The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced that Frog and Toad's 2nd season would be nominated for three Emmy Awards: Preschool Animated Series, Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program, and Editing for a Preschool Animated Program.^[16] At the 3rd Children's and Family Emmy Awards, Frog and Toad won the Emmy for Music Direction and Composition.^[17]

In 2021, Evitts was a co-writer on the Nas (feat. Blxst) single, "Brunch on Sundays" for the Grammy nominated rap album, King's Disease II. Evitts also recorded on Joey + Rory's RIAA certified Gold selling, Grammy winning album, "Hymns",^[18] as well as working with producers Sam Hollander and Josh Edmondson on ten episodes of NBC's Smash, including the Emmy nominated original song,^[19] "I Heard Your Voice In a Dream".

Evitts co-wrote additional music with film composer Alex Geringas on the Netflix Animation feature film Arlo the Alligator Boy. He has been an arranger, musician and music producer on several hit television shows, including The Bachelor, Nashville, Blood & Oil, the BBC documentary, Love In A Day,^[20] Discovering Lucy Angel,^[21] SVT's award winner documentary series Jills veranda, as well as films such as Summer Forever and Finding Your Feet.

In addition to his original compositions and arranging, Evitts was also in the trio, St. Alban consisting of himself, Peter McVeigh of Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Andy Dunlop (guitarist for Travis) of Glasgow, Scotland.^[22] Their self-titled debut album was BBC Radio's Album of the Week.^[23]

In 2022, Evitts was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear.^[24] In May 2024, Evitts was inducted into the Paducah Tilghman High School Hall of Fame.^[25]