Steven Marking is a Riverlorian, defined as follows:
“One who studies rivers and shares all aspects of navigation, nature, history, legends & lore with anyone who will listen. This could expand into river related topics that interest the Riverlorian and possibly even the audience.”
Born and raised on the backwaters of the Upper Mississippi, Steven Marking has an innate knowledge of the twists and turns of the river and its ever changing character. A consummate videographer and photographer, Steve captures images that are both entertaining and breathtaking. From the great migration in fall to baby wood ducks leaping from their nest in spring, from the majestic bluffs to the backwaters in bloom, from the headwaters in Lake Itasca to the mouth at the Gulf of Mexico, Steve presents the entire length of this magnificent river in stunning high definition.
Steve is a Guest Speaker and Resident Entertainer for American Cruise Lines as they travel the Mississippi, Ohio, and Cumberland Rivers. He holds a Masters Degree in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Bachelors Degree from Viterbo University in his hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He brings more than three decades of professional production and performance experience to his latest creation, A Visit From Will Dilg, and his ongoing masterpiece, Our Mighty Mississippi.
Steve is a member of / contributor to: The Mississippi River Network, The Izaak Walton League of America, The Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The Brice Prairie Conservation Association, Friends of the Mississippi, Friends of Pool 7 and 8, Friends of Pool 9, and 1 Mississippi. His photos are often published in his favorite magazine, Big River and in Outdoor America.
Steve has recorded five CDs: Holy Chestnuts (Victorian era sacred anthems), Grandma’s Favorite Gospel Hymns, Toscanini and Friends (Italian Art Songs), My Mighty Mississippi (Soundtrack from Our Mighty Mississipi show in 2015) and Lord, Here Am I (contemporary Christian Favorites). He has filmed, photographed, edited and added his own music to his popular DVD Our Mighty Mississippi, and produced Riverscapes, a DVD with no human voices.
Rave Reviews for Steve’s show “Our Mighty Mississippi”
Having worked on the Mississippi for almost thirty years, and
paddled its length, I found “Our Mighty Mississippi” truly captures the river’s spirit.
– John Sullivan, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
The audience jumped to their feet for a standing ovation after Steven Marking’s show
“Our Mighty Mississippi”. Being we are a river town, folks could easily relate to the music,
stories and photos of this great river and Steven’s beautiful baritone voice and warm
presence made it even more captivating!
– Kris Niebler, Program Director, Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Rave Reviews for Steve’s latest CD “Holy Chestnuts”
What a work of love this album is! The artistry of both Steven and organist Donald Livingston,
as they perform Victorian Anthems, is of the highest order. This latest collaboration shows off their partnership both beautifully and meaningfully.
– Bill Mathis, Music Minister Emeritus
Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church Minneapolis, Minnesota
Rave Reviews for Steve’s river talk “1811: A Roosevelt, A Comet, A Steamboat and the New Madrid Earthquakes”
By acting this story out you brought history to life! I had no idea we had earthquakes in the midwest – I never learned this in school!
– Cruise Guest, American Cruise Lines