Mark Muehlberg (a.k.a. Curly "No Shoes" Jr.) was born on July 1, 1957 and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Curly started playing guitar at the age of 9 and had formed his first musical group by the age of eleven, consisting of Curly and two friends, one playing electric guitar and another on “drums”. In 1974 and 1975 Curly traveled extensively throughout Europe with a suitcase and his acoustic guitar. He spent most of his time during his 14 month stay in Milan, Italy but made his way from the southern reaches of Italy through Potenza, Naples, Rome, Venice, Como, Geneva, Dresden, Munich, Amsterdam, back to Milan and finally back home again to Tulsa.
In the early 1990's Curly relocated to Texas and joined the extensive Blues community in Dallas, lead by the infamous Bluesman and virtuoso Blues guitarist "Hash Brown", who later became one of Curly's best friends and mentors in the Blues.
Curly was then introduced to the Ex World Champion Wrestler and well known Mississippi Blues Festival promoter Arman Hussein. Arman introduced Curly to a number of Blues and R&B Legends, such as Little Milton, Curly Barefoot Miller (Curly’s namesake) and Eddie King and arranged for Curly to perform with artists such as Long John Hunter, "Lucky" Peterson, Joe Jonas, R.L. Griffin, and Greg Smith, just to name a few.
Curly was also fortunate enough to become close friends and companion to the late legendary Sam Myers (recipient of multiple W.C Handy Blues Awards and singer with Anson Funderburgh and the Rockets) who also helped Curly tremendously in "cutting his chops" as a Blues vocalist. It was at Sam’s suggestion that Curly put the guitar down and concentrated on “something he might be good at someday”… being a Blues Vocalist.
Curly moved to Denver, Colorado in 1999 and formed a group called "Curly 'No Shoes' Jr. and the Ricky Earle Blues Review", featuring former Little Milton guitarist Ricky Earle. With the “rotating door” of band members, Curly changed the name of the band to The Curly “No Shoes” Jr. Band which at times has included friends of Stevie Ray Vaughn, members from the bands of KoKo Taylor, Little Milton and Tab Benoit.
During one of his appearance tours back through Oklahoma, the fine ladies of the Oklahoma Blues Society introduced Curly to the Oklahoma Blues Hall of Fame member and Queen of the Oklahoma Blues community “Miss Blues” (a.k.a Dorothy Ellis). In that introduction, Curly found his new mentor. Miss Blues and Curly immediately became fast friends and have been promoting one another since, with Curly bringing Miss Blues into Colorado regularly for concert and festival appearances and Miss Blues doing the same for Curly in Oklahoma. THAT is what the Blues is about! NO competition…just shoutin’ the Blues and helping one another in any way we can.
In 2001, Curly’s Single “Wanna Be A Better Man” went to #1 on MP3.com’s Electric Blues Charts.
In 2005 Curly's single "Nuthin' But A Tear" was featured in the Movin' Pictures Studios film titled " The Surfer King" and in 2006 Curly was commissioned by the 2006 Martin Luther King Committee to write the 2006 MLK “Marade” theme song "What's Goin' On"
Curly completed his first solo CD, "Make Your Dreams Come True", partnering with Blues legend Sammy Mayfield (Musical Director for “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Soul Legend“ Solomon Burke) in August of 2006.
Curly’s newest CD release “Blues Bakers Dozen”, Recorded Live at The Walnut Room in Denver, Colorado is expected to be released in the summer of 2010.
Curly has recently relocated to the “Windy City” and home of so many Blues greats, Chicago, IL where he is continuing to perform regularly and will soon start recording his third CD with the Chicago configuration of "The Curly 'No Shoes' Jr. Band".
Discography
2001 - Single - Wanna Be A Better Man (#1 on MP3.com’s Electric Blues Charts)
2004 - Single - Nuthin' But A Tear
2005 - Full CD Release - Make Your Dreams Come True
2006 - Commissioned by the 2006 Martin Luther King Committee to write the 2006 Marade theme song "What's Goin' On"
2007 – “Nuthin' But A Tear” is included on the 2007 Colorado Blues society Compilation CD "Trois"
2010 – “Blues Bakers Dozen”, Recorded Live at The Walnut to be released summer of 2010
Films
2005 - "Curly's song "Nuthin' But A Tear" featured in the Movin' Picture Studios film "The Surfer King" starring Lindsay Wagner and Alan Thicke
2007 - "The Path" is featured in Stillwater Production's film "The Ruined"
2007 - "Hide Me From Myself" featured in RW Production's film "The Brandenton Monster"
Acting
Curly has appeared, mostly in Leading Roles, in over 25 movies over the past 5 years
Special Awards and Recognition
2005 - "Special Recognition" in the 2005 Billboard Songwriting Competition
2005 - Musiqtone's "You Gotta Know Artist"
2006 - Recipient - The Colorado Wave's "Golden Wave" Award
2007 - Colorado Music Buzz Magazine rated The Curly "No Shoes" Jr. Band as the #4 local show to see in Colorado (the only Blues band in the top 10)