Mark Hartmaier: Portrait of a street performer

[yeslovewins]

Love you, Marky! Great spending the afternoon with you. Thanks for the music tips. You're brilliant. - Sharon

[cmills999]

Was a pleasure meeting you today! Good luck for your audition tomorrow

[johnnydangerous29]

Saw this guy in Van about 6-7 years ago, had a sign in front of his piano that said you can do anything. Changed my life, thanks man

[burritobunch]

things that piss of mark hartmaier

[gardenbill]

Mark, you are one incredible human! Love you!  Wishing you all the best

[gardenbill]

Mark, you are one incredible human! Love you!

[blueeyedgeisha]

How can this video have 4 thumbs down?  Must be from some horrible people.

[steryle1]

I may have arms and legs, but my happiness isnt even close to his lvl, gratz man wish i had ur mentality.

[TarantulaTown]

ATTN torontonians: no matter how well you dress, how many indie shows you show up at for a good cause, and how many times you let that guy from Eye take your picture, you will never be as fondly remembered (or as cool) as this guy.

[SuperYouTrube]

i saw u when i was young =P u were great, are great and will be great =D

[pwbdecker]

@SuperYouTrube I used to see him play at Dundas and Spadina on my way to school in the mid 90s, then I met him 15 years later at Georgia and Granville (where this is filmed). Great guy, sad to hear he's giving it up.

[c2a6t]

You are such a heart lifter and to know that in this wonderful world of ours that you're here. You have a beautiful family. Thank you for sharing a part of your life with us. We can all learn a lot from you.

[bigyenta]

Wonderful video, you are amazing man!!! Nice meeting you today on Spadina.

[bigyenta]

Wonderful video, you are amazing man!!!

Nice meeting you.

[crusiatusblack]

This guy is the best!

[jfairborne22]

Hi Mark,we met on the Toronto chinatown boardwalk, couple of days ago.My wife took a picture of us cause i wanted to show my kids what courage was all about.Thanks for the exemple Bro,our little problems tends to disappear when we see people like you fighting against the odds.But your most important message is the one that comes from the heart.Godspeed,hope to meet you again some day, J-F from Montreal

[19Nbsa92]

Damn he's cool.

[eveplayer12]

a legend without a doubt

[bellehaup]

What beautiful eyes and soul. He's just fine. Who knew wow.

[DDeDokter]

This was one of the first video's I have seen on Youtube. Still remember it

[Nihilanthic]

Respect.

People should listen to this man. He's a Buddha in this life if I've ever seen one.

[RetardRage99]

no way buddha was fatter

[DeadlikeIce]

This guy is awesome.

[isobeleve]

Beautiful eyes, beautiful soul.....this man truly 'knows'. His words are legend.

[jeffleachtv]

more power dude

[Haddcore]

I want to ask him for an autograph, but I don't want it to end up awkward.

[Cramocys]

another respect

[Jakuballo]

respect.

[1objection]

Respect

[polzyx]

respect

[plasticbudgie]

what a remarkable man.

[bgrrrlie]

"If you build your empire on money, it'll fall like a house of cards, if you build it on love, you've built Taj Mahal!" <3

[b1gs341]

I would punt him like a football

[sdflksdfkfh]

I think it'd be great if someone just casually walked up, picked up his keyboard and walked away with it. He'd be totally helpless!

[Xantor12345]

an inspiration

[Musicart26]

What a heart!

[AbadonBelial]

heart

[ValkyrieRaven]

It's been a long time since we've hung out, Mark. Peace! (Jennifer - I used to play hooky from work, while we hung out at the hospital residence - '86 - '90s). Rick lives just down the street from my apartment, believe it or not.

[AlexanderZographos]

mark, thank you man, keep playing those beautiful tunes!!!

[toddvarious]

this video has instilled some thing that I have agreed with for a very long time

[hotspursg]

Inspiring!

[giantwarwock]

i remember him from my childhood in torontos chinatown :D

[Po3tryInMotion]

this guy is a legend!

[kimmers68]

PEOPLE... open your eyes!! You only know Mark through this video, I've known him for over 20 years and I'm sorry to burst your bubbles but he is nothing but a CON. Good job at it too, huh, look at all of you the way you have put him on a pedastool --- just what he wants!!

[Shinigami1016]

He's using his handicap as an advantage.

If he's happy and makin people happy than it doesn't matter

[markywheels]

just curious...

who are you ?

and i know you ?

you obviously know

very little of me.

so explain this "con"

[stephaniestar1989]

You tell em baby. I love you

Honey

[41point2]

Okay Kimmer. Lets say you are right. Then have the balls to stand up and identify yourself. As I see it right now. Mark stands a lot taller then a coward hurling insults from behind the curtain. I actually like the groove\music he had going on in the street. We all first see Marks physical disabilities and then let ourselves enjoy his musical ability. I first see your psychological disability and cowardess and wait for you to prove us all wrong and identify yourself and the con you claim?

[Torch3r]

everyone should have the soul this guy has

[kimmers68]

If only any of you knew this CON for whom he really is you wouldn't be falling for all his crap and thinking he is so sweet!

[markywheels]

A PUBLIC APOLOGY IS IN ORDER...

[Bestie85]

such a gentle person, seems like a great bloke

[henrygordonsmith]

Hey! Great job on this video Tyson! I really enjoyed it. Mark you are an amazing person. Keep up the good work!

[jasonsmith73]

Mark should cut an album. When I heard him on the streets of Toronto I immediately thought of songs that sound like the theme to Magnum PI. The sound was pretty sick. People would buy it and go to see him play live in clubs. Any labels out there ready to market him?

[cookie1love]

Wow you bring the true meaning to one great guy.Honey is a fantastic women too Mark.Love ya'll  Janine

[eatmars]

ive just been slap in the face. i have the feet and hands that he doesnt have and im still here in the house lying around whining about my minor acne and not finding a job. i realize that im still lucky and im just a shallow motherfucker.

[Snorglorf]

i hope to meet him some day :)

[Snorglorf]

that was GREAT

[trueheart101]

Mark has inspired us all.

[Zentj]

this guy knows what hes doing, i love this guy like a brother =D. hes so cool.

[Cupidgrrrl]

Thanks so much for posting this..... the Left Coast misses Marky Wheels greatly.

[Seabrook78in]

This guy is cool, a gentleman.

[tonez9207]

That was simplpy one of the most moving pieces I've seen. I make spray paint art and I absolutly loved his outlook on life.

[eddiedaskull]

Iam a street magician.Thank you very much your inspiration for me and other performers.I love your form of street therapy

[Sassyscissors2002]

Mark, I remember you from highschool. Still the same great guy now.. hugs to you!

Tracy N.

[HenryIsYourGod]

That was great man

[devampa]

I think your a great intelligent guy, and SO hot.

[wia91]

that was actually really awesome, a great video. Favorited

[vsthemonster]

i like this dude. i like his waddle. two thumbs up.

[scottlespaul89]

asstittiesass go to hell you dumb ass jerk the worlds already got to many stupid bitches like you

[inluminary]

bravo Mark -- keep up the good work...peace in your heart.

search myspace - inluminary

[asstittiesass]

id like to play a game of basketball with him that way i could smash his face in.

[inluminary]

god bless you anyway ATA

[sickofdummies]

I guess that's the only way you could ever beat someone!! you're a small minded loser

[asstittiesass]

ooh. damn. im hurt. just go ahead and kill yourself. Girls already have a pussy; why would they want another one?

[markywheels]

keep dreaming. i don't play with losers...

[dassa4]

boy be makin beats

[ausdylan2005]

fuck just hwen you thought life was unfair

[raelazar]

well done & so inspiring!

[LvpBeemer]

good man u should have a website so we can all donate money for this nice good man god bless

[pnt100]

awesome!

[Jafo38506]

What an inspiration. Thanks for making this world a better place by just being alive

[skylinesteve]

This man is a legend. I hope many of us abled can live in his example. LOVE the directing of this video btw!

[Tim66613]

That was a very nice movie but it unfortunately made me cry.

[Eytonistheman]

What a great guy!  Good looking and intelligent!

[markywheels]

I am his wife and still after 20 years I find him utterly amazing.He is an awesome father and life partner,I wish everyone could be so lucky. Have a great day and keep rockin baby ! Your biggest fan. XOXO

[Krazog]

What a cool guy with a heart of gold :P I hope that guy who took his money feels really guilty...

[skinnyloukingston]

Only so much he can do on the keys with no fingers. He should take up breakdancing, I bet he could do some sweet toprocking.

[ex19948]

This guy knows the secret

[Mathijsweb]

Nice video, cool guy. Happy new year Mark!

[thoughtfoxe]

Kind of makes little annoyances, like not having enough minutes on your cell plan, seem really trivial.

[ICE420]

Wow, what a really cool guy.

[Silencer84]

Very good !

[doyona]

SOMETHONG INTELLIGENT for a change!!! This guy is less handicaped then a lot of people. It's a good lesson about humility and self respect.

So let's continue to do with what we have and do it the best possible: bee happy....

[braverun]

amazing

[BurgerTrench]

Portrait of a creepy bum.

[m2chaudh]

you moron, he is living life everyday with a smile, God forbid anyone is born with such a curse, but think yourself in his position and you would have probably killed yourself. You're such a pathetic lamer.

[BurgerTrench]

lol, what a spaz

[georgemorgan1]

Mr. Trench, What is it that is so sad about your life? I hope something great and positive happens to you that you will no longer feel so insecure. May you never appear so pathitic in public again. Oh yeah, thats right. This is the net and you're hiding like the pathetic frightened rabbit you are.

[boetie82]

The only 'spaz' is you BurgerTrench. Mark has half the body you have but he's twice the man.

[wia91]

Wow man well said, very well said... even though I'm reading this 4 months after you wrote it.

[hiddentalent123]

Verry inspirational. Very well said from a fellow musician. I wish everyone had this kind of attitude.

[NikkiLikeWoa]

that was so inspirational. mark, you're amazing. thank you.

[hoostine36]

Thank you

[CharlyStriker]

this guy is so amazing! he takes everything so cool! wow! i hope he is doing well! have a happy new year!!!!

i want to meet him one day! i hope i will!

[JayarrSteiner]

absolutely amazing. i loved it.

thank you.

[Hexuss]

That was a great video.

[Ashleeeeeeey]

I love you and what you're saying! Enjoy your family and have a good life =) I wish I could hear you play for real, but I live in the Netherlands..(A)

[Runny452]

that guy changed my life! Love ya Mark! Stay Strong!

[pademe237]

god bless you,dude u rock

[g3ftw]

Nicely made and interesting film. This Mark geezer's got some nuggets of wisdom on offer in this film that make you think, and he's a little bit edgy which is always good. Keep on playing Markyboy!

[TubbyOfSpork]

"If you build your empire on a stack of money - it'll collapse like a stack of cards".

Jesus christ dude, that is a powerful quote. You are an inspiration in the things that you do. Enjoyed the portrait, thank you both. :)

[crumpits]

wow.

hes amazing!

[TDIBeetle]

I remember Mark from Spadina & Dundas here in Toronto. This is an awesome clip!!

Alan - Toronto

[markywheels]

hi alan, i live in london now.... merry Christ-mas!

[MissPatutsie]

amazing man.

[Lilly467]

why he doesn´t have an elektrik wheelchair?

[markywheels]

i do actually but its 15 years old, hard to get parts so i only use when absolutely need to. awaiting funding for newer one. generally i bounce around like a tigger, don't have as far to fall (lol) thanks for your interest-great question! merry Christ-mas

[markywheels]

funding was approved for new electric wheelchair. saved a lot of pants... lol

[davidmiska]

incredible

[toonamifan]

i thought this was very professional. Great job.

[suzegarcia]

That was awesome. Good job Tyson.

[Tmpshop66]

Hes EXTREMELY talented, and i would enjoy watching him play,hes AWESOME.