This news brings me great personal sadness. I was "Mark-E-Baby's" afternoon drive newsman in the early 70's at "Radio Ft. Worth, K - F - J - Z", at a time when KFJZ - The Big 1270 RULED the radio airwaves of Ft. Worth. They were essentially KLIF's Ft. Worth equal, since neither station could adequately penetrate the other's city limits very well at night.
In addition to his wit, his amazing sense of humor (which really came out more in his later years of Houston and KEGL), "The Mark of Ft. Worth" as he was known back then was a fine human being, a well respected concert promoter, and an all-around good guy. His connections into the inner workings of the music business were beyone belief, always on a first name basis with the rock stars and the movers and shakers of the day. I had the rare pleasure of working for Mark, both on and off the air, serving as his production manager and concert sound/lighting provider. Anyone remember the many "Sunshine Festivals" he staged on the land now known as Alliance Airport, or the excellent series of intimate, small venue concerts held at the downtown Hollywood movie theatre on 7th St?
His personality was almost as amazing as his wardrobe (but not nearly as voluminous as his set of hair pieces!) Mark was a flamboyant dresser. Arriving for his 3 -7 drive shift, one might think one of the Beatles had arrived, replete in high-topped boots and Nehru jacket. Think Sgt. Peppers album cover! As a result of his stylish garb, Mark and Stan Wilson, the longtime GM of KFJZ entered into a partnership, forming Mark Sebastian Ltd, a "bleeding edge" clothing store just off the West Freeway in Ft. Worth, not far from the KFJZ-TSN studios. Bleeding Edge indeed! It truly "bled" Mark to death. Mark never forgave Stan for, as Mark once put it "F%$ing me out of my life savings."
I lost complete contact with Mark after he left KFJZ, which was shortly after I left the live side of the microphone in radio, headed instead for the technical side.
Mark Stevens was one-of-a-kind. I will always cherish how he gave this 21 year old kid a taste of bigtime radio. And it tasted really, really good! Mark my friend...you will be, you already are, so missed!