Mark Ramos Nishita (born February 10, 1960),[1] known professionally as Money Mark, is an American producer and musician, best known for his collaborations with the Beastie Boys from 1992 until 2011.
Early life
Born in Detroit to a Japanese-Hawaiian father and a Chicana mother, Nishita moved with his family to Los Angeles, California, when he was six years old.[1]
Career
His first album, Mark's Keyboard Repair (1995), was made up of keyboard driven pop-funk songs recorded at demo quality. Guy Ritchie used a song from the album in the film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. This was followed up by the Third Version EP (1996) and Push the Button (1998), for which Mark received critical praise.[2] Whereas his 1996 EP was similar to his debut, Push the Button was extremely eclectic, combining aspects of rock music and pop with soul, funk and hip hop.[2] This LP was met with good reviews, as was his 2001 follow up Change Is Coming which had a tropical yet danceable disco and funk sound.[3]
Mark met the Beastie Boys during their migration to the West Coast, through mutual friend, Mario Caldato Jr., who asked Mark (who was working as a carpenter) to fix the wooden gate at the entrance of the property where the band was staying when they were recording Paul's Boutique.[4][5] He helped them build a studio, and quickly became a principal collaborator. He performed, wrote, and collaborated on every Beastie Boys album from 1992's Check Your Head to the group's final album, 2011's Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. Mark co-authored the Grammy Award winning album The Mix-Up.
Money Mark contributed the keyboard phrase that opens and underpins "Where It's At" from Beck's 1996 album, Odelay. He played keyboards on tour for the Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet in support of their self-titled album. He has since become a full member of the quintet, appearing on the live EP with Damo Suzuki called Please Heat This Eventually and several other albums, with his debut full-length collaboration with the group being the Quintet's second LP release, The Apocalypse Inside of an Orange. In 1996, Money Mark contributed the song "Use Your Head (Use a Sua Cabeca)" to the AIDS benefit album Red Hot + Rio produced by the Red Hot Organization. He also contributed songs to Red Hot's Silencio=Muerte: Red Hot + Latin and Red Hot + Rhapsody a tribute to George Gershwin. In 2004, Mark scored and played all instruments for HBO's first ever documentary prime time series, "Family Bond's," directed by Steve Santor. That same year, Mark also contributed original songs and score cues for "Along Came Polly," "Fun With Dick and Jane," and "The Devil Wears Prada."
In 2011, he contributed the Mario C. Remix of "Tropicaliá" with Beck and Seu Jorge, and played Hammond B-3 organ on "Look Around" from the Red Hot Chili Peppers album I'm With You, as well as a version of the song "Tropical Affair" with Thalma de Freitas and João Parahyba for Red Hot Organization's most recent charitable album "Red Hot+Rio 2." The album is a follow-up to the 1996 "Red Hot + Rio." Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.
Mark scored the Slamdance Audience Award-winning and critically acclaimed documentary film, Getting Up: The Tempt One Story.[7]
He was a regular guest on DVDASA, a podcast hosted by David Choe and Asa Akira. He is also part of the band, Mangchi, with David Choe and Steven Lee.
In the spring of 2016, it was announced that Money Mark would be touring with The Claypool Lennon Delirium, a collaboration between Les Claypool and Sean Lennon. From the Prawn Song Newsletter, "Les Claypool and Sean Lennon’s newly formed band, The Claypool Lennon Delirium, will hit the road this summer for an extensive tour of the United States. Rounding out the band with Les and Sean will be Money Mark on keyboards and Paulo Baldi on drums. In addition to playing Bonnaroo, Vertex and Peach festivals, The Claypool Lennon Delirium will play a number of headline shows across the country."
In 2021, talent manager Tamayu Takayama connected Money Mark with the Japanese girl group Atarashii Gakko. He co-wrote and produced songs on their SNACKTIME EP, their debut on the 88rising label, and their 2024 album AG! Calling. He is credited with spurring the evolution of the group's sound and image.[9][10]
On July 20, 2023, he performed on the keyboard for Cypress Hill on the NPR YouTube series Tiny Desk.
