Mark Alexander Dimond, known professionally as Markolino, was born in 1950 in Philadelphia and raised in the Lower East Side of New York. He began his music career at a young age, learning to read and write musical scores. By 1966, he started playing piano with various artists, including Willie Colón and Héctor Lavoe. In 1968, Dimond contributed to the recording of Willie Colón's album The Hustler, showcasing his talent on tracks like "Guajirón". Dimond struggled with drug addiction, leading to his dismissal from Colón's orchestra. He then formed Conjunto Sabor and released the highly regarded salsa album Brujería in 1971. In 1975, he released Beethoven’s V and initiated a personal rock and R&B project called The Alexander Review, releasing an album under the same name. Dimond worked with various artists throughout his career, including Ángel Canales and Orquesta Dicupé. His career was cut short by his death at age 36 in Oakland, California, in 1986.
