Mark James

Birth Name: Francis Rodney Zambon

Date of Birth: November 29, 1940

Place of Birth: Houston, Harris, Texas, United States

Date of Death: June 8, 2024

Place of Death: Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

Ethnicity:
*father – Italian, Austrian/German
*mother – English, German, Welsh, Scottish, Irish

Mark James was an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He was known for writing classic songs such as “Suspicious Minds,” “Always On My Mind,” and “Hooked On A Feeling.” He was also credited as Francis Zambon.

His father was born in Cavasso Nuovo, Pordenone, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, and was a building contractor. His surname is common in North-East Italy, in the Veneto and Friuli regions. He was married to Karen Taylor, until his death. He had a daughter with his former wife Shirley Yates. Mark was a practising Episcopalian.

Mark’s paternal grandfather was Giuseppe/Joseph Zambon (the son of Antonio Zambon and Angela Teresa Dal Ben, or Giovanni Zambon and Giulia Dinon Morit). Giuseppe was born in Cavasso Nuovo, Udine, Italy, to parents from Verona, Veneto. Angela was the daughter of Francesco Dal Ben and Lucia Fattori.

Mark’s paternal grandmother was Francesca/Fanni Seidel (the daughter of Anton/Antonio Seidel and Maria Henrietta/Henriette Martin). Francesca was born in Austria, to a father from Weckersdorf, Greiz, Thuringia, Germany, and a mother from Braunau Am Inn, Upper Austria.

Mark’s maternal grandfather was Lorenzo Dow Evans (the son of Emon/Emery F. Evans and Mary Delafield). Lorenzo was born in Woodlawn, Harrison, Texas. Emery was born in Alabama, the son of Joshua W. Evans and Rachel D. Reddoch. Mary was born in Barbour, Alabama, the daughter of Nicholas Delafield, whose paternal grandfather was from Great Haseley, Oxfordshire, England; and of Sarah “Sally” Gorman.

Mark’s maternal grandmother was Lolia Lee Hays (the daughter of Abner Shook Hays and Julia Schaffer). Lolia was born in Hallsville, Harrison, Texas. Abner was born in Hallsville, Harrison, Texas, the son of Elisha Lott Hays and Mary Ellen Waskom. Julia was born in Marshall, Harrison, Texas, the daughter of Charles Francis Schaffer, who was born in Germany, and of Mary Elizabeth J. Russell.

Source: http://nashvillesongwritersfoundation.com