ARTIST

Miko Marks

In Nashville, Marks earned spots at CMA Fest, but the industry largely ignored her talents because of her race. Where did a black country singer fit into a genre so largely white and male?

Holler Country Music

In Nashville, Marks earned spots at CMA Fest, but the industry largely ignored her talents because of her race. Where did a black country singer fit into a genre so largely white and male?

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Miko Marks was born in Flint, Michigan. After attending Grambling State University in North Louisiana, she moved to Nashville in 2005 with the intention of making it as a commercial country star.

Although Marks grew up listening to different kinds of genres, she largely performed R&B in college. But that was also when she discovered country. "That's when I found out, 'Hey, I might want to do this kind of music, because it's speaking to my soul so much, the stories'", she told NPR.

Despite the setbacks, Marks released two albums, 2005's Freeway Bound and 2007's It Feels Good. Ultimately, she decided that she was tired of playing a game that always changed the rules on her. She moved west, to California, and continued working on country music.

In 2021, Marks returned with her third album Our Country.