Author Information: Mark T. Watson (aka. Malik Al Nasir)
Book Launch: Fri 03 Dec 2004 @ 6.30pm at Borders New Mersey
Retail Park, Speke Road, Liverpool L24 8QB, U.K.
Tel: +44(0)151 494 9144
Title: “Ordinary Guy “.
Description: Spoken Word – Poetry & Explanatory Prose.
A Tribute to Gil Scott Heron & The Last Poets.
Author: Mark T. Watson – With a foreword from; Jalal of
The Last Poets.
Retail Price: £8.99 UK, E12.99 EU
ISBN: 0-9548867-0-4
Published By: Fore-Word Press Ltd.
Contact: Malik Al Nasir Chief Executive.
Binding / Format: Paperback - perfect bound/64 pp. 156 x 234mm.
Category/Language: Works by individual poets / English.
Series: Fore-Word Press: Poetry Series.
Malik Al Nasir is the Publisher at "Fore-Word Press Ltd" in Liverpool UK. Details can be found on Fore-Word's website at [1] Malik is also the author of the book "Ordinary Guy" under his pen name "Mark T. Watson". The book was launched on Fri 3rd Dec 2004 at Borders Bookstore in Liverpool the film of which will form part of a documentary on the author for release in 2005.
Liverpool has long been the home of writers and poets and a melting pot of cultures, due to its status as a major international seaport. “Ordinary Guy” is one such Liverpudlians tale. Written by Mark T. Watson whose father settled here after the war from Guyana. It is a collection of poetry about Mark’s life travelling the world and growing up in Liverpool in the care system of the 1970’s. This, his first book, is published by Liverpool based publishing house Fore-Word Press Ltd.
It charts this extraordinary life of a kid who gets neglected by his social workers and beaten up in the care system in the 1970’s and leaves care barely able to read and write and with a great sense of injustice hanging over his head.
Roger Phillips from BBC Radio Merseyside [2] said “As a white man living in Liverpool, I felt privileged to read these powerful poems, which give some insight into the emotions and history of the black people of this city. These aren’t poems about ‘daffodils’ they’re about human beings and their lives. Mark is no ‘ordinary guy’ but he gives voice to all the ordinary lives of black people in this city.”[3]
In 1984 Mark’s world changed when met the legendary black American poet, performer and author Gil Scott Heron after a gig at the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool. Gil took a shine to Mark and took him on tour with the band. He toured with Gil for some 15 years in the USA the UK and Europe learning about the music industry and writing poetry under the tuition of the master himself. “Ordinary Guy” is the product of those years of travelling the world with this politicised poet - who is largely credited as the founder of modern day rap music - and is a “Tribute to Gil Scott Heron [4]and his mentors “The Last Poets” who wrote the foreword to the book. [5]
Pete Wylie from local band The Mighty WAH said “Mark Watson has spent years touring and hanging out with ‘Gil Scott Heron’ and ‘The Last Poets’. Check out the foreword of his book. This has been some life”. [6]
The book demonstrates that despite Mark’s childhood problems with racism and the care system, Mark educated himself, graduated University, sued the City Council and got an unprecedented public apology from the Lord Mayor of Liverpool.
The book, “Ordinary Guy”[7] was successfully launched at Borders Books in Speke, Liverpool on Friday 3rd December. The author Mark T. Watson recited several moving and thought provoking poems on issues as diverse as power, politics, nature and world events and the book “Ordinary Guy” can be ordered for £8.99 from Borders quoting the ISBN 0-9548867-0-4 for those who couldn’t make it on the night.
Robbie Gordon, bass player with Gil Scott Heron and former in-house producer for ACID JAZZ Records – flew in from Washington DC to attend the launch and both Robbie and Mark did a live interview on BBC Radio Merseyside’s Upfront programme with Mandy Smith and James Klass on Saturday 4th December – the night after the launch, where Robbie Gordon announced that Fore-Word Press will be bringing out an audio book version of “Ordinary Guy” in the new year produced by Robbie Gordon himself.
Mark said “Liverpool is the place where I was born so it was fitting to launch both the book Ordinary Guy and the publishing house Fore-Word Press Ltd. here. There’s a lot of talent in this city and with the European Capital of Culture coming up it’s important for organisations to showcase local people, particularly from culturally diverse backgrounds like my own.
