The music of Ruby Topaz can display raw emotional energy one minute and polish the next. It exhibits a progressive blend of pop, rock, blues and fusion. Their influences run the gamut from The Beatles, The Monkees, and Hermans Hermits to Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Mark Bram, and his alter ego/band Ruby Topaz, has a long and colorful history in the Rhode Island music scene. In the 80's, their single, Why/The Sack, had some international success; and was played on the radio in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. Live, Mark plays lead guitar, lead vocals and keyboards, along with the line up of Ruby Topaz (Steve D'Andrea on drums and Chris Hallam on Bass), but in the studio Mark handles everything (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, and keyboards, as well as the engineering), with Steve playing drums most of the tracks. Mark has produced five CDs.

Mark Bram / Ruby Topaz

The music of Ruby Topaz can display raw emotional energy one minute and be polished the next. It exhibits a progressive blend of pop, rock, blues and fusion. The band's music varies so much that it is difficult to tack a label on their style. Their influences run the gamut from The Beatles, The Monkees, Hermans Hermits and various pop groups from the 60s to Queen, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Mott The Hoople, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra.
Mark Bram, and his alter ego/band Ruby Topaz, have a long and colorful history on the Rhode Island music scene. In the 80's, the Ruby Topaz single Why/ The Sack had some international success, and was played on the radio in England, France, Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium. They played their progressive brand of glam rock in Rhode Island as well as CBGB's , Gildersleeves, and L'Amour's in New York and had the honor of being one of the opening acts for John Entwhistle, from the Who. Ruby Topaz has also opened for national acts who brought their tour to Rhode Island. Mark co-wrote 'A Piece of Our Hearts' with Al Gomes of BIGNOISE RECORDS for Rhode Island Bandwagon, a project to feed the homeless in Rhode Island.
In a live situation Mark plays lead guitar, lead vocals and keyboards along with the current live line up of Ruby Topaz (Steve D'Andrea on drums and Chris Hallam on Bass), but in the studio Mark handles all the chores (vocals, guitar, bass, drums, guitar synth and keyboards, as well as the engineering), with Steve playing drums on most of the tracks. Mark has produced five CDs, available on CD Baby, itunes and other outlets through digital distribution through CD Baby.
In addition to recording and performing, Mark is a Grandmaster of the Lee Wah Yook Qi Quan system of internal Chinese martial arts, and teaches Yeung style Taijiquan in Providence, Rhode Island