Mark Colin Henderson

Mark Colin Henderson passed away October 14 in California while out visiting friends and family and working on his music.

Mark was born in Long Beach Ca. At an early age Mark and his family moved to Santa Barbara where he grew up in the Thomas Hope House and was a member of the Christian Science First Church of Christ Scientist Santa Barbara.

Mark attended San Marcos High School where he was involved with the Madrigal Singers and the school choir among other activities from which he established life long friends. Mark graduated with the class of 1978 and after went on to attend Principia College and California State University, Northridge.

An incredibly gifted artist in many forms, Mark was the resident composer at Access Theater in Santa Barbara for over a decade. He later moved to Los Angeles where he founded Blazing Cactus Music in 1990, where he composed, recorded and produced music for numerous television and radio commercials, children’s videos, films, corporate audio signatures and other outlets in the entertainment industry, including DreamWorks, Universal Studios, Sea World, the Smithsonian Institute, the Indianapolis Children’s Museum and the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, among others. Marks talents enabled him to work with many well-known recording artists. Mark wrote, performed and produced two of his own music albums, Music for the Movies in Your Mind and A Ramblers Soul.

Along with his involvement in the music industry, Mark enjoyed quiet walks through Santa Barbara’s natural beauty, visiting Santa Ynez for its soothing feel and wonderful restaurants.

While Mark enjoyed discussions of history and politics, he remained keenly enthusiastic about listening to and discussing Elton John, The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, among others, concerning their impact on musical development and our culture over the decades, as well as their inspiration for his own musical expressions.

Most recently Mark and his fiancée, Liana Franklin with her two children William and Lily, lived in Nashville, Indiana where Mark was mesmerized by the vibrant greens of the Midwestern spring, as well as the bright and colorful autumn foliage.

Mark is predeceased by his parents, Sherrill and William Henderson and survived by his sister Jennifer Dahlke, brother in-law Tad Dahlke and his nieces and nephews Madison, Tyler and Kyra

There will be a celebration of Marks life to be held at a later date.