A veteran of the L.A. Blues, Swing, and Roots scenes, singer and harmonica player Mark Tortorici hails from Thousand Oaks. "Cutting his teeth" in the blues, he worked with several local bands like the great John Marx & the Blues Patrol, Randy Rich, Blue Stew, Jimmy C, Robert Thomas, Ashford Gordon, and others before starting his own jump blues band the Bluesmatics with good friend and great Bassist Brent Harding. Later known as the Swingtones, the band played extensively around Ventura and Santa Barbara, were regulars at Nicholby's, and was the house band at the Yucatan on State Street for over 2 years.

Mark then fronted one of L.A.'s most popular swing bands Jumpin' Jimes, a swing/rockabilly/rock band which mixed Louis Jordan, Louis Prima, 50s rockabilly and modern rockers like Kiss and the Ramones into their own unique sound. The Jimes were an integral part of the L.A. scene as the dance and Swing craze swept the nation, touring the west coast to packed houses and holding Sunday night house band honors for nearly 3 years at the scene's "Ground Zero," the world-famous Derby in Hollywood.

In 2000 Mark moved on and formed the Hollywood Combo. The band plays Rhythm & Blues, early Rock & Roll, jump and boogie-woogie with a heavy west coast influence from artists such as Roy Milton, Johnny Otis, T-Bone Walker, and the legendary saxophone honker Big Jay McNeely. Big Jay, a Rock&Roll icon and an R&B hall-of-famer, is still performing and sounds great. Infact, the band has backed Jay up at several events and festivals, including the headline at Ojai's 20th annual Bowlful of Blues in 2002. Jay guests on a few tracks on the CD recorded last year and is scheduled for several more events with the Combo in 2005 including the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly weekender and the Rockin' 50's Fest II in Green Bay.

While growing up and hearing his parents' records from Bing, Nat Cole, Frank, Dean, Bobby Darin, Lou Rawls, Johnny Mathis, Elvis, Louis Prima, Louis Armstrong, and others, Mark developed a love for singers and standards, as well as a strong penchant for the sweet and hot sounds of traditional Jazz. Long overdue, the Torchlighters was formed a few years ago for the love of playing, singing, and hearing this music, combining the best of the American songbook and the classic crooners with the sweet and hot jazz of New Orleans. A live CD will be out soon, and there is much more on the horizon for this group.

Mark has an extensive background in theatre and performing, and has recorded both voice and harmonica for radio, television, and motion pictures. He plays extensively at clubs, dances, festivals, and private events all over Southern California and Las Vegas. Performance highlights include opening for the great Keely Smith, Sam Butera and the Wildest, parties for Gene Simmons of KISS, ER, Suzanne Somers, Fran Drescher, Marcey Carsey, Charlize Theron, Fess Parker, Hayley Mills and the Make-a-Wish Foundation, Santa Barbara MDA, and many many more. Mark's several movie and TV appearances include USA, HBO, last year's NBC primetime hit For Love or Money, and the nationwide opening hour slot in the 1998 Jerry Lewis MDA telethon. He loves to dance and is known to jump off the bandstand and grab a gal for a spin. A strong blues shouter who also has the range and style to be warm and smooth on a love song, standard, or ballad. He is an engaging performer who always "takes it up a notch" and who you will enjoy hearing and seeing live. Rumor has it he's also one of the sharpest dressed cats in town.