Sparklehorse

Mark Linkous (September 9, 1962 – March 6, 2010) was a singer-songwriter and musician who operated under the Sparklehorse moniker.

A member of the 1980s indie band the Dancing Hoods, Linkous moved with the group from his native Virginia to New York City and later Los Angeles in hopes of achieving mainstream success. By 1988, the band had failed to land a major record label deal, and they disbanded with Linkous returning to Virginia, where he began writing songs under various monikers.

By 1995, he created the project Sparklehorse, of which he would remain the only permanent member.

He committed suicide in Knoxville, Tennessee on March 6, 2010.