{{short description|American country singer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Miko Marks | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Miko Marks | birth_place = Flint, Michigan | birth_date = | origin = Flint, Michigan | instrument = Vocals, acoustic guitar | genre = Americana | occupation = Singer songwriter | years_active = 2005–present | label = Mirrome, Brown Bear, Aspirion | website = [http://www.mikomarks.com/] }} '''Miko Marks''' is an American Americana singer based in Oakland, California. Born in Flint, Michigan, she first gained attention in the 2000s with the albums ''Freeway Bound'' (2005) and ''It Feels Good'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miko Marks: A Country Music Dream, Resurrected |url=https://www.wmot.org/show/the-string/2023-04-11/miko-marks-a-country-music-dream-resurrected |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=WMOT |language=en}}</ref> After stepping away from recording for more than a decade, she returned with ''Our Country'' (2021) and ''Feel Like Going Home'' (2022), the latter recorded with her band the Resurrectors.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-22 |title=Review: Miko Marks draws on church roots and bridges genres |url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-reviews-tennessee-ea5ee20e71ae6b5fb81a27bb57a3591b |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref> Marks made her Grand Ole Opry debut on October 14, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Opry |title=Opry Goes Pink - Friday, October 14 |url=https://www.opry.com/show/2022-10-14-grand-ole-opry-at-7-pm |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260214051120/https://www.opry.com/show/2022-10-14-grand-ole-opry-at-7-pm |archive-date=2026-02-14 |access-date=2026-04-18 |website=www.opry.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Marks was born in Flint, Michigan<ref>{{Cite web |last=Opry |title=Miko Marks {{!}} Opry |url=https://www.opry.com/artists/miko-marks |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250909033359/https://www.opry.com/artists/miko-marks |archive-date=2025-09-09 |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=www.opry.com |language=en}}</ref>, and has family roots in Mississippi. She has said that church and school chorus were early musical influences, and that her grandmother's love of the Grand Ole Opry and ''Hee Haw'' helped inspire her interest in country music.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.mikomarks.com/about |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=Miko Marks |language=en-US}}</ref> Marks attended Grambling State University in Louisiana from 1990 to 1994, where she studied political science with hopes of going to law school to become a criminal defense attorney, before later moving to the San Francisco Bay Area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Miko Marks: A Country Music Dream, Resurrected |url=https://www.wmot.org/show/the-string/2023-04-11/miko-marks-a-country-music-dream-resurrected |access-date=2026-04-19 |website=WMOT |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== Marks began her career in Nashville in the early 2000s and was named ''Best New Country Artist'' at the 2006 New Music Weekly Awards.<ref name="Henderson">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jtMDAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Miko+Marks%22&pg=PA88|title=The Storyteller Miko Marks|last=Henderson|first=Shirley|date=June 2008|work=Ebony|page=88|access-date=June 5, 2010}}</ref> After stepping away from the mainstream country industry, she re-emerged in the 2020s within the Americana genre, earning new praise for her later work. Inspired by her mother who fought for equal rights, Miko Marks is known for helping challenge racial barriers in country music as a black female artist.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Miko Marks and the Resurrectors |url=https://albinoskunk.com/lineup/miko-marks-and-the-resurrectors/ |access-date=2026-04-15 |website=Albino Skunk Music Festival |language=en-US}}</ref> Her debut single, "Freeway Bound," in 2005. It was followed by her debut album, also titled ''Freeway Bound'', which was released on September 13, 2005. Three further singles — "Kickin' Back," "Mama," and "Don't Come Cryin' to Me" — were released from the album in 2006. "Mama" featured Marks' first music video, which included a guest appearance by Erykah Badu assuming the title role.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mikomarks.com/about.html |title=Official Miko Marks Website - 2007 Country Album of the Year |access-date=April 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613005353/http://www.mikomarks.com/about.html |archive-date=June 13, 2010 }}</ref> Her second studio album, ''It Feels Good'', followed in 2007 after the release of lead-off single "Locked and Loaded." Both albums were produced by Ron Cornelius and released under the Mirrome Records imprint.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mirrome.com/ |title=Home |website=mirrome.com}}</ref>
In a review of ''It Feels Good'', Stewart Mason of AllMusic gave the album three-and-a-half stars, comparing Marks to the Dixie Chicks and Gretchen Wilson and writing that it "clicks on every level, making it a solidly enjoyable neo-traditionalist country listen."<ref>{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1112542|pure_url=yes}}</ref>
In 2021, Marks released “Our Country'',''” her first new album in over a decade.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Rodman|first=Sarah|date=2021-02-17|title=Black, Female and Carving Out Their Own Path in Country Music|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/17/arts/music/black-women-country-music.html|access-date=2021-02-19|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The album's lead single and music video are "We Are Here".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1832519/premiere-miko-marks-video-we-are-here/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210409181322/http://www.cmt.com/news/1832519/premiere-miko-marks-video-we-are-here/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 9, 2021|title = PREMIERE: Miko Marks Highlights the Struggles of Her Hometown in "We Are Here" Video}}</ref> In October 2022, Marks performed on the Grand Ole Opry for the first time. According to CMT, her performance received two standing ovations.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cmt.com/news/5zcnk5/dream-realized-miko-marks-receives-two-standing-ovations-at-grand-ole-opry-debut | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221019072054/https://www.cmt.com/news/5zcnk5/dream-realized-miko-marks-receives-two-standing-ovations-at-grand-ole-opry-debut | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 19, 2022 | title=Dream Realized: Miko Marks Receives Two Standing Ovations at Grand Ole Opry Debut }}</ref> In October of 2023, Marks collaborated with the Fisk Jubilee Singers for an updated version of her song "Jubilee".<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/10/13/miko-marks-releases-jubilee-a-rootsy-collaboration-with-the-fisk-jubilee-singers/71166044007/ | title=Miko Marks releases 'Jubilee,' a rootsy collaboration with the Fisk Jubilee Singers | website=The Tennessean }}</ref>
== Life in music == Marks' music incorporates elements of Americana, blues, Southern rock, and gospel.<ref>{{Cite web |title= |url=https://www.opry.com/artists/miko-marks}}</ref> After releasing her album ''It Feels Good'' in 2007, she stepped away from the music industry for more than a decade before returning in the 2020s with the Resurrectors.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About-Miko Marks |url=https://www.mikomarks.com/about#:~:text=After%20graduating%20from%20Grambling%20State,2007%20at%20the%20Acoustic%20Corner.}}</ref><ref name=":0" />
== Family == Her single mother and grandmother raised Miko Marks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.mikomarks.com/about |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=Miko Marks |language=en-US}}</ref> After college, she married David Hawkins, who currently works as a local firefighter in Oakland, California.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mikomarks.com/about |title=About}}</ref> They have one son, Justin, who travels with her to CMA Fests each year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.mikomarks.com/about |access-date=2026-04-21 |website=Miko Marks |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Discography==
===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="1"| Year ! rowspan="1"| Album details |- | 2005 | align="left"| '''''Freeway Bound''''' * Release date: September 13, 2005 * Label: Mirrome/Brown Bear |- | 2007 | align="left"| '''''It Feels Good''''' * Release date: August 21, 2007 * Label: Mirrome/Aspirion |- | 2021 | align="left"| '''''Our Country''''' * Release date: March 26, 2021 * Label: Redtone |- | 2022 | align="left"| '''''Feel Like Going Home'''''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://musicrow.com/2022/10/miko-marks-new-album-feel-like-going-home-set-for-october-14/ | title=Miko Marks' New Album 'Feel Like Going Home' Set for October 14 | date=October 3, 2022 }}</ref> * Release date: October 14, 2022 * Label: Redtone |}
===Extended plays=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="1"| Year ! rowspan="1"| Album details |- | 2021 | align="left"| '''''Race Records''''' * Release date: October 1, 2021 * Label: Redtone |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="1"| Year ! rowspan="1"| Single ! rowspan="1"| Album |- | 2005 | align="left"| "Freeway Bound" | align="left" rowspan="4"| ''Freeway Bound'' |- | align="left" rowspan="3"|2006 | align="left"| "Kickin' Back" |- | align="left"| "Mama" |- | align="left"| "Don't Come Cryin' to Me" |- | 2007 | align="left"| "Locked & Loaded" | align="left"| ''It Feels Good'' |- | 2019 | align="left"| "Roll Out"<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/13859970/rightnowish-miko-marks-and-the-oakland-rollers |title = Oakland's Rollerskating Country Singer| date=November 2019 }}</ref> | align="left"| |- | 2021 | align="left"| "We Are Here" | align="left"| ''Our Country'' |- | rowspan="2"| 2022 | align="left"| "Feels Like Going Home" | align="left"| |- | align="left"| "Trouble"<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.wideopencountry.com/2022-bristol-rhythm-roots/ | title=Bristol Rhythm & Roots: 6 Standout Sets from This Year's Festival | date=September 28, 2022 }}</ref> | align="left"| |- | rowspan="2"| 2023 | align="left"| "Still Here" {{small|(with Rissi Palmer)}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.soultracks.com/first-listen-rissi-palmer-miko-marks-still-here | title=First Listen: A music pioneer, Rissi Palmer is 'Still Here' | publisher=Soul Tracks | date=March 25, 2023 | accessdate=May 15, 2023}}</ref> | align="left"| |- | align="left"| "Jubilee" {{small|(with Fisk Jubilee Singers)}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://americansongwriter.com/miko-marks-calls-on-fisk-jubilee-singers-for-jubilee/ | title=Miko Marks Calls on Fisk Jubilee Singers for 'Jubilee'| publisher=American Songwriter | date=October 13, 2023 | accessdate=October 13, 2023}}</ref> | align="left"| |}
===Music videos=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Video ! Director |- | 2006 | "Mama" | |- | 2007 | "Locked & Loaded" | rowspan="2"| Edward Rosenblum<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/84755 |title = Music Video-rama}}</ref> |- | 2013 | "Help" |}
== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Association ! Category ! Result |- | rowspan="2"|2006 | New Music Weekly | Best New Country Artist<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newmusicweekly.com/news2.php?a=116 |title=New Music Weekly |access-date=June 18, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714173031/http://www.newmusicweekly.com/news2.php?a=116 |archive-date=July 14, 2011 }}</ref> | {{won}} |- | The Independent Music Awards | Country Album of the Year – ''Freeway Bound'' | {{won}} |- | 2007 | Independent Music Awards | Country Song of the Year – "Freeway Bound" | {{won}} |- |2008 |Independent Music Awards |Country Album of the Year – "It Feels Good" |{{nom}} |- |2008 |Independent Music Awards |Country Song of the Year- "It Feels Good" |{{won}} |}
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.mikomarks.com/ Official Site] * [https://www.instagram.com/mikomarks2u Instagram] * [https://open.spotify.com/artist/2pkqyjrPhrzJcdhwN80kAs?si=O5sbIaSsSG2WvT217BO_nQ Spotify] * Miko Marks has a collection of her papers at [https://collections.library.vanderbilt.edu/repositories/2/resources/2485 Vanderbilt University Special Collections & University Archives].
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marks, Miko}} Category:21st-century African-American women singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:American country singer-songwriters Category:Living people Category:African-American country musicians Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Country musicians from Michigan Category:African-American songwriters Category:Singer-songwriters from Michigan Category:Musicians from Flint, Michigan