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MARK ‘POCKET’ GOLDBERG – JUST A LITTLE

OFF

By Lawrence Lebo

Bassist/Singer/Songwriter Mark ‘Pocket’ Goldberg hits all the low
notes! From his rock steady bass playing to his rich gravely
baritone voice, Mark’s got a corner on all that’s deep and
satisfying. He’s spent most of his career behind his bass backing a
bevy of famous blues artists, yet he’s just as comfortable stepping up to front
his band and grab the spotlight. It’s no

surprise that Mark writes some foot-
stompin’, hip-swaying, hard grooving blues.

His latest release “Off-Balance Blues” is the
third in a series of his CDs with the word
“Off” in the title! First came “Off The
Alleyway”, followed “Off The Wire”. “Off-
Balance Blues” contains 12 original straight-
ahead blues, featuring Mark on bass and

vocals, accompanied by some of his long-
time MPG band members and some special
guests. Lyrically the songs reflect a slice of
‘Pocket’ Goldberg’s life seen through his own
uniquely “off” sense of humour! On track 9,
a mid-tempo blues titled ‘Lookin’ For Insults’
Mark sings and writes “If you go Lookin’ For
Insults, they won’t be hard to find. The fact
is most insults, are mostly in your mind!”.

“Off-Balance Blues” is an off-the-charts
groovin’ good time!

I asked Mark ‘Pocket’ Goldberg to tell us about his life, career, and his new release “Off-Balance Blues”.
This is what he told me …

LL: Would you tell us about growing up and about your family?

MPG: Born the eldest of four (1 brother, 2 sisters) in Central California, our family moved to Port

Jefferson, New York when I was five. This is where I would grow up, other than the one year (1966-67)
that we lived in England (in Sutton Courtney, just south of Oxford) when my father (a nuclear physicist
and solar energy pioneer) worked on an exchange program between Britain and the U.S. That’s right,
I was 10-11 years old and loved the pop-rock music on British T.V. “Top Of The Pops” and “Cracker
Jack”. My mother was a brilliant, highly educated mathematician who gave it all up to raise a family.
Unfortunately for all parties concerned, it was no cake-walk being the black sheep, but someone had
to do it! My siblings all followed our parents’ example, concentrating their energies on education
while I spent my time partying, making money any way I could and playing the Blues.