Money Mark is Mark Ramos Nagita’s alias. He is a keyboardist who earned the title of fourth Beastie Boy for his funky, retro-flavored riffs. Nishita was born in Detroit to a Japanese-Hawaiian mother and Chicano father. He moved to California when he turned six years old and joined the Dust Brothers production crew. A few years later, he began to overdubbed keyboards for Delicious Vinyl. Nishita began his career as a handyman and soon became a key member of the Beastie Boys’ Grand Royal posse. He performed on Check Your Head in 1992 and Ill Communication 1994. Money Mark’s solo album, Mark’s Keyboard Repair, was recorded at his Los Angeles studio. It is a loose and infectious collection of fuzzy organ noodlings on vintage equipment. The three 10-inch records were issued by Love Kit in 1995. The small pressing was sold out quickly, but the first record in the series made it to Britain and to the offices of James Lavelle, Mo’Wax founder, who flew to L.A. in order to meet Nishita. A deal was reached and Mark’s Keyboard repair was reissued in 1995. In 1998, Mark released Push the Button, a more pop-oriented album. He followed that with Change Is Coming in 2001. Fast forward to 2007, when Mark was in a close association with Jack Johnson via Mario Caldato Jr., Beasties producer. This led to a contract with Johnson’s Brushfire label as well as a brand new Money Mark pop album, Brand New By Tomorrow. Allmusic
