Marc Shipley

Alternative Pop/Rock singer and songwriter Marc Shipley premiered on the Columbia Music scene in mid-1996 when he won the first ever WARQ Rock 93.5 Acoustic Challenge. This accomplishment came only 3 years after picking up the guitar for the first time, and with no formal training. He has since finely tuned his guitar technique and vocal chops, developing a unique voice ranging from quiet and... nearly comical to powerful and plaintive while drawing on influences ranging from Toad the Wet Sprocket to Tonic, Radiohead, Duncan Sheik and others.
After a few years of doing solo acoustic shows, Marc joined friend Jeff Bernagozzi in forming an acoustic duo. They soon created the band Five Minute Major, releasing an EP in 1999 entitled "Walk Away" consisting of five original songs written by Marc. This recording received high local praise, and was the creative springboard for a collaboration that lasted nearly eleven years.
As Five Minute Major faded into the winter of 2006, Marc began working with The Starseed Project, one of his most successful projects to date. Bringing some of the band's best guitar hooks and his unique vocals, he and the group recorded a self-titled album, played venues large and small throughout the southeast and shared the stage with acts like SafetySuit, 7 Mary 3, Rehab and Drivin N' Cryin. Drummer Mike Sandor, a one-time member of Five Minute Major joined the group in 2009, and soon started backing Marc up in acoustic shows as a side project with fellow 5MM alum Jeff Bernagozzi.
The Starseed Project ended in September of 2009, leaving Marc and Mike without their best creative outlet. In the meantime, bass player Joe Greene was looking for a band to call home after indie/alternative band Black Swan dissipated. He joined the group bringing a sense of arrangement more in tune with Marc and Jeff's musical sensibilities and timing in lockstep with Mike's solid and straightforward drumming. The group took on the name Will Divide, andbrought to its own blend of 90's acoustic rock covers and electric originals to Columbia and beyond. After a couple of shows though, the band began to fizzle out. In early 2011, the band formally called it quits.
Shipley has since returned to his roots of acoustic shows; doing both acoustic cover shows and opening for acts like Angie Aparo. He also is jamming some with the Starseed guys with a possible album in the near future.