Mark Allen Gresham was born in the year 1952 to Bill and Ruth Gresham at the Telfair hospital of Savannah, GA. Two loving parents and a whole lifetime lay waiting in front of him. Eight years would pass before he experienced guitars for the first time, but the impression would be lasting. No one knew then that when he received his first guitar from his Uncle Charley it would create what would be a lifelong love and respect for music and all of its opportunities.

       When he became of age Mark joined the Air Force and was stationed in England. Here he would meet Vic Cooper, this encounter spurred an interest in the construction of instruments. How they were developed, what came of the hard, long work, and the priceless end result, all fascinated him. From this moment on he could not shake it, a passion had developed for the beauty that one man could create by a little sweat and his hands. Soon Mark was transferred to Minot, ND where he discover yet another lifelong love, Cherie Marie Carter, not long after she was to become Cherie Marie Gresham. Mark now had the love of his life, the passion for instruments, and the world at his feet.

In the late 1980’s, Charlie Saxon, a close friend, brought the idea to the table that he and Mark try their hand in building guitars, S & G guitars was born. There were five guitars built under the name of S & G.  Charlie had assisted Mark in kick starting a long awaited dream.  Building instruments had been his passion and now his reality. In the mid- 1990’s Mark did some work on a few mandolins belonging  Barry Kratzer. After which, Barry approached him with the idea of a partnership. Now they were to become K & G mandolins. Their second mandolin ever built was given to Mr. Don Rigsby, who in turn endorsed the K & G name. During the time of K & G there were roughly 42 mandolins developed. Owners of some of these instruments are Don Rigsby of the Lonesome River Band, John Rigsby of Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Allen Bybee of the Blueridge Band, and Shawn Lane of the band Blue Highway.

more to come soon......