Vann was a founding member of Leftover Salmon and had played with the band up until last fall when he took time off for chemotherapy treatment.

Born in Maryland, Vann formed his first band shortly after hearing Carl Pagter play the five-string banjo at a folk festival in 1972. With his brother Mike on mandolin, his father on guitar and his mother on upright bass, the Vann family band fueled Mark’s appetite for music and soon other musicians were recruited to join.

After a brief stint at college, Vann retreated to the mountains of North Virginia where he built a one-room cabin. He settled in and played the banjo daily for two years. It was during this time that he met Jennifer Loud on a trip to upstate New York. The two eventually started a carpentry business, bought a home and began their lives together.

It was on a trip to Colorado in 1989 that Vann won a banjo contest and met Drew Emmitt and Vince Herman. Vann joined Emmitt and Herman’s Left Hand String Band. Shortly thereafter, Leftover Salmon was born.

A fund has been set up to offset costs of Vann’s treatment and in support of Jennifer Vann. Contributions can be sent to P.O. Box 393, Nederland, Colo., 80466.

Leftover Salmon have postponed their tour plans through March 7. Shows affected are Asheville, N.C., (6) and Charleston, S.C., (7). They pick things up as scheduled on the 8th with a show in Atlanta.