Mark Ledford (March 10, 1960 – November 1, 2004) was an American trumpeter, singer, and guitarist. He was known for his multi-instrumentalism and his membership in the Pat Metheny Group.^[1]

Ledford grew up in Detroit and attended Berklee College of Music between 1978 and 1982.^[2] After he graduated, he took a job in advertising while doing session work with Stephanie Mills, Jon Hendricks, Special EFX, Michael Brecker, Kevin Eubanks, Don Byron, Living Colour, Prince, and Bill Evans.^[3][4] He would later contribute to the soundtracks for the Spike Lee films Mo' Better Blues and Do the Right Thing.^[5]

In 1986, he began a working relationship with Pat Metheny, appearing live with the Pat Metheny Group and on numerous recordings, including the Grammy award winning albums Secret Story and Still Life (Talking).^[6] He worked with Bobby McFerrin's a cappella group, Circle, and he played in Joe Locke's Storytelling Band.^[7]

Between 1990 and 1992, Ledford taught master classes in trumpet at the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada.^[8] In 1998, he released a solo album, Miles 2 Go, a tribute to Miles Davis.^[9]

On November 1, 2004, Ledford died of heart failure in Los Angeles.^[1]

With Uri Caine

• Love Fugue: Robert Schumann (Winter & Winter, 2000)

With Faith Evans

• Faith (Bad Boy, 1995)

With Joe Locke

• Longing (Timeless, 1990)
• Storytelling (Sirocco, 2001)

With Pat Metheny Group

• Still Life (Talking) (Geffen, 1987)
• We Live Here (Geffen, 1995)
• Imaginary Day (Warner Bros., 1997)

With Pat Metheny

• Secret Story (Geffen, 1992)

With The Rippingtons

• Black Diamond (Windham Hill, 1997)

With Special EFX

• Global Village (GRP, 1992)

With Eliane Elias

• A Long Story (Manhattan, 1991)

• Mark Ledford obituary
• All-Music Guide entry