Mark Petteys began performing as a teenager and played throughout the United States, appearing with Tex Williams, Grandpa Jones, Tiny Moore, Mark O'Connor, the Country Gazette and others.

He worked as a studio musician for Capital Records in Nashville, TN in 1977. During the 1970s and 1980s he recorded a solo 5-string banjo album (Country Blue, Roadrunner Records, Las Cruces, NM) and a duo album with J'Anna Jacoby (Double Barrel Bluegrass, Paradise Platters, Redding, CA). He was the Northwest Regional Banjo Champion in 1984. He has led and performed with several bluegrass, swing, and rock groups. He most recently performed with Ida Viper and taught banjo and guitar.

Mark had been diagnosed with CIPD - chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy - an acquired immune-mediated inflammatory disorder of the peripheral nervous system. He passed away in his sleep October 22, 2011. He is survived by his wife Phyllis and his son Guthrie.