# Mark Pontius
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{{short description|American musician (born 1985)}}
{{Use American English|date = December 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Mark Pontius
| image = 2011 MuchMusic Video Awards - Foster the People (Mark Pontius).jpg
| caption = Pontius in 2011
| birth_name = Mark Andrew Pontius
| alias = Ponsi
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|01|03}}
| birth_place = [Orlando, Florida](/source/Orlando%2C_Florida), U.S.
| years_active = 2003–present
| occupation = Musician
| instrument = {{hlist|Drums|percussion}}
| genre = {{hlist|[Indie pop](/source/Indie_pop)|[alternative rock](/source/alternative_rock)|[indie rock](/source/indie_rock)}}
| label =
| associated_acts = [Foster the People](/source/Foster_the_People), [Malbec](/source/Malbec_(band))
}}
'''Mark Andrew Pontius''' (born January 3, 1985) is an American musician who is best known as a founding member and drummer of the American [alt pop](/source/Indie_pop) band [Foster the People](/source/Foster_the_People); he left the band in 2021. Prior to joining Foster the People in 2009, Pontius was part of the now-defunct indie pop band [Malbec](/source/Malbec_(band)).
== Early life ==
Pontius was born on January 3, 1985, in Orlando, Florida to Harriet and Lawrence Lee "Larry" Pontius.[{{Cite web|url=https://knightnews.com/2011/09/interview-with-mark-pontius-of-foster-the-people/|title=Interview with Mark Pontius of Foster the People|last=Harper|first=Sarah|website=KnightNews.com|date=September 28, 2011|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}}] Growing up, Pontius drummed in garage bands and community groups.[{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJeM7qlU9q0|title=Mark and Rebecca Pontius on "The Bubble" with the Clyde Brothers|date=2012|people=Clyde Brothers (interviewer); Mark and Rebecca Pontius (interviewee)|type=Podcast|publisher=Clyde Brothers|access-date=December 5, 2019|via=youtube.com}}] Pontius graduated from [Lyman High School](/source/Lyman_High_School_(Florida)) in [Longwood, Florida](/source/Longwood%2C_Florida) in 2003.[{{Cite web|url=http://lymanhighschool.net/longwood-fl/alumni/5709275/mark-pontius.html|title=Mark Pontius - Lyman High School - Longwood, FL|website=lymanhighschool.net|access-date=2019-12-04}}][{{cite web |title=Foster the People Fast Facts |url=https://fosterthepeoplefans.webs.com/ftpfacts.htm}}] competing for the Silent But Deadly Mimes in one season and the Reef Sharks in the second season.
== Career ==
=== 2003–2010: Malbec and early musical contributions ===
After moving to Los Angeles, Pontius joined the indie pop band [Malbec](/source/Malbec_(band)) which was fronted by Pablo Signori and included music producer [Speakerbomb](/source/Sidney_Miller_(musician)).[{{Cite web|url=https://rickyleepotts.com/2009/01/artist-interview-1-on-1-with-malbec.html|title=Artist Interview: 1-on-1 with Malbec|last=Potts|first=Ricky|date=January 28, 2009|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}}][{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-ca-foster-the-people-20110626-story.html|title=Foster the People: Pumped up, indeed|last=Martens|first=Todd|date=June 26, 2011|website=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)}}]
Besides being the band's drummer, Pontius also directed and edited all of their music videos.[{{Cite web|url=https://buzzbands.la/2014/03/18/ears-wide-open-beginners/|title=Ears Wide Open: Beginners|first=Kevin|last=Bronson|date=2014-03-18|website=buzzbands.la|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}]
=== 2010–2021: Foster the People ===
Around the fall of 2009, [Mark Foster](/source/Mark_Foster_(musician)) recorded the song "[Pumped Up Kicks](/source/Pumped_Up_Kicks)" at his workplace and it was released as an early single for the band.[{{cite web|url=http://archive.seattleweekly.com/home/915112-129/interview|title=Foster the People's Mark Foster on|work=[Seattle Weekly](/source/Seattle_Weekly)}}] In May 2010, the band was signed to [Columbia Records](/source/Columbia_Records) imprint [Startime International](/source/Startime_International) for a multi-album deal due to the song's increasing success. "Pumped Up Kicks" was officially re-released as the band's first single on September 14, 2010;[{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Steve|date=October 3, 2011|title=The dark meaning of Foster the People's lyrics in Pumped Up Kicks|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/10/03/dark-meaning-of-bubble-gum-pumped-up-kicks-is-tough-to-chew/|access-date=|work=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)}}] it was labeled as a "[sleeper hit](/source/sleeper_hit)" and eventually peaked at number three on the [''Billboard'' Hot 100](/source/Billboard_Hot_100) starting with the week of September 10, 2011.[{{Cite magazine|last=|first=|date=|title=Chart History – Hot 100|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/foster-the-people/chart-history/hsi/|access-date=November 10, 2020|magazine=Billboard}}] It was nominated for the [Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Pop_Duo%2FGroup_Performance) in February 2012.[{{Cite web|date=2019-11-19|title=Foster The People|url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/foster-people/10594|access-date=2020-11-11|website=GRAMMY.com|language=en}}]
On May 23, 2011, the band's first studio album, ''[Torches](/source/Torches_(Foster_the_People_album))'', was released and earned the band their second Grammy Award nomination, one for [Best Alternative Music Album](/source/Grammy_Award_for_Best_Alternative_Music_Album).[{{cite web|last=Garrad|first=Susie|date=27 October 2017|title=How an entire hipster generation fell for Foster The People and their irresistible debut Torches|url=https://hhhhappy.com/how-foster-the-people-tricked-an-entire-generation-with-torches/|access-date=|website=HappyMag.tv}}] It also peaked at number eight on the [''Billboard'' 200](/source/Billboard_200). Three years later, the band released their second album, ''[Supermodel](/source/Supermodel_(album))'' on March 14, 2014. It is currently their highest peaking studio album on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number three.[{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-foster-the-people-supermodel-story.html|title=Foster the People goes political with 'Supermodel'|last=Martens|first=Todd|website=[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)|date=March 29, 2014}}] On July 21, 2017, Foster the People released its third album, ''[Sacred Hearts Club](/source/Sacred_Hearts_Club_(Foster_the_People_album))'', an album influenced by the global issues of the current times, which featured the single "[Sit Next to Me](/source/Sit_Next_to_Me)."[{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/foster-the-people-interview-sacred-hearts-club-mark-isom-how-to-listen-stream-buy-tour-dates-a7852416.html|title=Foster the People interview: 'This record had its own pressure'|work=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)|date=July 21, 2017}}]
In 2017 and 2018, Pontius worked with [Gabe Simon](/source/Kopecky_(band)) under the name Mr Gabriel. The two produced a series of tracks together, including "Holy Water," a song produced at Pontius' Tennessee studio, Fat Horse Ranch, which includes archival drums and bass performed by his late father.[{{Cite news|date=2013-06-05|title=Obituary for LARRY PONTIUS (Aged 73)|pages=B5|work=The Orlando Sentinel|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37916804/obituary-for-larry-pontius-aged-73/|access-date=2020-11-11}}][{{Cite web|last=Bound|first=Chris|date=April 23, 2018|title=INTERVIEW: Gabe Simon discusses his new project Mr. Gabriel|url=https://www.mysticsons.com/article/interview-gabe-simon-discusses-his-new-project-mr-gabriel#.X6jsdS-faf0|access-date=2020-11-11|website=Mystic Sons}}]
He left the band in 2021 to focus on his family.[{{cite web|url= https://www.nme.com/news/music/foster-the-people-drummer-mark-pontius-exits-band-after-over-a-decade-3070340|title=Foster the People drummer Mark Pontius exits band after over a decade|first=Alex|last=Gallagher|work=NME|date=2021-10-14|accessdate=2021-10-14}}]
== Personal life ==
Pontius has one daughter.[{{Cite instagram |user=carolinewalkup |postid=BxY47DdnBxm |title=I became a mom just around a month ago when she entered the world fast and furiously, like a spring storm. We’ve been quietly celebrating life with her, absorbing all the love and learning we can. Our eyes have been opened (sorta 😴) and our hearts are full. Sunday Lane Pontius (our Sunny!), thank you for choosing me to be your mom. |date=13 May 2019}}] He lives in [Nashville, Tennessee](/source/Nashville%2C_Tennessee).[{{Cite web|url=http://www.good-saint.com/10/post/2016/01/mark-pontius-of-foster-the-people.html|title=Mark Pontius of Foster the People|website=GOOD SAINT|language=en|access-date=2019-12-04}}][{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/home/la-hm-0611-young-innis-loft-20160606-snap-story.html|title=An open, industrial loft in DTLA gets a cozy makeover|date=2016-06-11|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-04}}] In October 2025, Pontius married long-term partner Jessa Reed.[https://www.instagram.com/p/DQNQ1-vEWJs/?igsh=MXFheGN0Ym1zaHUwbg==]
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums ===
;With [Malbec](/source/Malbec_(band))
* ''Malbec'' EP (2006)
* ''Keep It A Secret'' EP (2007)
* ''Dawn of Our Age'' (2008)
* ''Answering Machine EPs'' (2008–2009); 5 [EP](/source/Extended_play) project
; As Delivery (solo project)
* ''Takes My Time'' (2010)
; With [Foster the People](/source/Foster_the_People)
{{Main|Foster the People discography}}
* ''[Torches](/source/Torches_(album))'' (2011)
* ''[Supermodel](/source/Supermodel_(album))'' (2014)
* ''[Sacred Hearts Club](/source/Sacred_Hearts_Club)'' (2017)
; As Suitnop (solo project)
* ''Phage One'' EP (2022)
* ''Phage Two'' EP (2022)
* "Five Windows" (2024)
* ''Safe'' (2024)
=== Singles ===
;With [Mr. Gabriel](/source/Kopecky_(band))