“ I was doing what I wanted to do and having a blast . I got to play with great musicians , famous musicians . It was a hell of an experience for many years ,” he said .
In 2009 , he was laid off and found himself out of work for the first time in 40 years . Unexpectedly , it turned out to be a good thing , giving Fenichel the time to start a booking agency for bands , starting his own band , and honing his craft . He also hosted and emceed major Bay Area festivals , including the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival , Pacific Coast Dream Machines in Half Moon Bay , Mountain View Art & Wine Festival , and the Saratoga Downtown Car Show .
He went on to work for Monterey peninsula radio stations and South Bay newspapers doing ad sales before moving to Morgan Hill . While volunteering on the board for the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce , he met the editor of Morgan Hill Life newspaper , which led to Fenichel taking over as the advertising / marketing director for the newspaper and eventually Gilroy Life newspaper , which is his current role .
He said he has loved having two parallel careers in music and sales , likening his newspaper colleagues to family . It has given him the flexibility to deepen his community roots attending breakfasts , lunches and ribbon cuttings as his role as chair of the the Morgan Hill Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors while continuing to play on weekends with bands at local wineries and restaurants . “ I love it . I ’ m having fun with it ,” he said .
Divorced , he has three children , ages 40 , 37 , and 34 . Fenichel and his long-time girlfriend Cathy Cook often team up as “ Cook ' N Fenny ” to perform at local venues and fundraisers
MAIN IMAGE : We were fortunate to catch Fenny with Steve Schanding at the Milias Restaurant in Gilroy a short while back . ABOVE : Fenny and Cathy Marie Cook , at the Half Moon Bay Pumpkin Festival enjoying a break in the action from his emcee / hosting duties . BELOW : Fenny reguarly gigged at the recently closed 88 Keys Cafe in Morgan Hill both as a solo artist and as a duo with Cathy as " Cook ' N Fenny ." Catch Fenny live ; as part of a group or solo , you will be very glad you did !
for local non-profit groups . He is contemplating publishing a book of his photography and loves song-writing and throwing an original song into the mix while performing .
“ I love the interaction , seeing people enjoy the music and I enjoy playing it . That ’ s pretty much what it is ,” he said .
For more information about Mark Fenichel , visit https :// www . markfenny . com and his Facebook page at https :// www . facebook . com / mark . fenichel . Check out his column " Music in the Air " in the Gilroy Life and Morgan Hill Life newspapers .
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