Mark Kennedy, the drummer for the progressive rock group Spectrum who played on the number one hit "I'll Be Gone," died Feb. 21 at age 74 following a terminal illness.
Kennedy received six years of classical piano training at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music before beginning his career as a drummer. He joined Spectrum as an original member in 1969. Frontman Mike Rudd credited Kennedy with carrying the band through its first year, observing that his technical skill drew audiences to the group during its early years in the Australian music industry.
Kennedy co-founded the jazz-rock ensemble Ayers Rock in 1973, providing the rhythmic foundation for the group's studio recordings and live performances. By November 1976, he was engaged to singer Marcia Hines and worked as her drummer. He influenced the selection of her recorded material, successfully advocating for the inclusion of the hit song "You" on her album.
He became a frequent session musician throughout the 1970s and 1980s, recording with artists such as Renée Geyer, Men at Work, and Jimmy Barnes. This work resulted in hundreds of album credits across the rock and jazz-fusion genres. Kennedy later worked as a record producer, overseeing studio projects for various Australian performers. His technical precision influenced the rhythmic standards of percussion across dozens of studio albums.