Mark Freuder Knopfler OBE is a British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. Mark Knopfler is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977 with his brother David. After Dire Straits disbanded in 1995, Knopfler continued to record and produce albums as a solo artist under his own name. Knopfler has played in other groups occasionally, such as The Notting Hillbillies, and has guested on works by other artists, including Joan Armatrading, Chet Atkins, the Chieftains, Eric Clapton, The Dandy Warhols, Bob Dylan etc. He has also produced albums for such artists as Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Willy DeVille, and Randy Newman.