I just got the sad news about the passing of guitarist/singer Mark Eskin.

Below is an article written by Kent Kotal on his "Forgotten Hits" website.

What you won't read is that Mark donated his time to perform for our Veterans at Hines VA Hospital through our "Forgotten Heroes Foundation," on more than one occasion. Mark was always in a good mood, I never heard him say a bad word about anyone and he could play the hell out of his guitar.

Bob Kolling and I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Mark's wife Flo, The New Colony 6, Instant Karma Band and Mark family.

Guitarist/singer/great guy ~ Mark Eskin

Kent Kotal writes ....

Chicago Music Fans lost a good friend, a great musician and true music lover earlier this week when guitarist Mark Eskin passed away at the age of 52.

We got to know Mark as a member of The New Colony Six for the past 14 years ... but Mark lived to play music and sat in with any number of bands whenever the opportunity presented himself.

He was also known as "Beatle Mark" in Instant Karma, a John Lennon tribute band that really captured the essence of Lennon's music and put on an incredible show. (In fact, a couple of years ago they took their act out on the road ... all the way to Jolly Ol' England!!! ... where they performed for appreciative audiences across the pond!)

Mark also performed with The Sting Rays ... and, over the years, we've seen Mark sit in with The Cryan' Shames as well as take the stage for any number of local musical events. In addition, we would run into him all the time at numerous local concerts in and around town over the years ... seems like if he wasn't up there playing the music himself, he was one of the many, many fans out in the audience, taking it all in.

Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Flo, who we also had the pleasure of getting to know thanks to our New Colony Six connection ...

There have been all kinds of memories posted on the web over the past 48 hours ... you'll find links to a few of them below ... along with Mark's own words about what it was like to perform that night with the ORIGINAL members of The New Colony Six the night before their induction into The Saint Pat's Hall Of Fame!

Thanks for all the music and all the memories, Mark ... we'll miss ya!
Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits