Mark Kendall - Part 4 (Rock, Rhythm & the Road to the Table)
In this powerful conclusion to our four-part Legends of the Cue series with Mark Kendall, guitarist and founding member of the platinum-selling rock band Great White, we dive deep into the stories that shaped his life both on stage and at the pool table. From the adrenaline rush of performing for hundreds of thousands of fans to the quiet intensity of a one-on-one pool match, Kendall reflects on the parallels between music and cue sports — focus, rhythm, and that elusive flow state where everything just clicks.
Joined by co-hosts Allison Fisher, Mark Wilson, and Mike Gonzalez, Kendall shares how decades in the rock world forged his resilience, taught him humility, and kept him grounded through life’s toughest moments — including personal loss and rediscovery. Listeners will hear hilarious behind-the-scenes tales from the road, late-night jam sessions that turned into lifelong lessons, and his encounters with legendary pool players like Nick Varner, CJ Wiley, and Mike Massey.
But this final chapter also takes a more reflective turn. Mark opens up about what he’s learned after a lifetime of chasing perfection — in music, in pool, and in himself. His answers to our signature three closing questions reveal the wisdom of a man who has lived fully, loved deeply, and still finds joy in the simple act of hitting a clean shot or nailing the perfect riff.
Filled with laughter, insight, and inspiration, this episode celebrates the artistry of a true original — a rock star with a cue in his hand and gratitude in his heart.
🎧 “Mark Kendall: Rock, Rhythm & the Road to the Table” — the unforgettable finale of a story that hits every note.
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Music by Lyrium.
About
"Legends of the Cue" is a pool history podcast featuring interviews with Pool Hall of Fame members, winners of major championships and other people of influence in and around pocket billiards. We also plan to highlight memorable pool brands, events and venues. Focusing on the positive aspects of the sport, we aim to create and provide an engaging and timeless repository of content that listeners can enjoy now and forever. Co-hosted by WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame member Allison Fisher, Mosconi Cup player and captain Mark Wilson, our podcast focuses on telling the life stories of pool's greatest, in their voices. Join Allison, Mark and Mike Gonzalez for “Legends of the Cue.”
Founder and Lead Guitarist - Great White Band
Mark Kendall is one of those rare guests whose life story makes perfect sense only after you hear him tell it: a Southern California kid raised on jazz and melody, who grew into the soulful, blues-rooted lead guitarist of Great White, and, at the same time, became a serious, “put-the-time-in” pool player whose love for the game runs far deeper than a celebrity hobby. On Legends of the Cue, Kendall doesn’t arrive as a rock star dropping in for a few quick pool stories. He shows up as a student of two crafts, music and cue sports, still chasing feel, still chasing precision, still chasing that elusive flow state where everything clicks.
Born April 29, 1957, in Loma Linda, California, Kendall’s early environment was steeped in sound. He describes a musically gifted household, his father a jazz trumpet player, his mother a jazz singer, and his grandfather a pianist, the kind of home where rhythm isn’t an abstract idea; it’s the wallpaper. Kendall has often cited Jimi Hendrix, Cream, and The Doors as formative influences, not merely for their technical brilliance, but for their emotion, the sense that every note is a confession. That focus on feel would later become a signature in both his guitar playing and his approach to the pool table: when it’s right, you know it; when it isn’t, no amount of explanation can fake it.
His guitar journey began young, he was hooked early, and the instrument became his voice. But what makes Kendall so compelling for Legends of the Cue listeners is that his pool origin story is just as authentic: the family garage table, the p…Read More