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 currently performs with Ida Viper and teaches banjo and guitar.