A New York based AOR act. Formerly with Progressive Rock outfit VALHALLA, Mark Mangold featured in AMERICAN TEARS' original three-piece line-up alongside drummer Tommy Gunn and bassist Gary Sonny. This trio cut the opening 1974 'Branded Bad' album. Sonny was replaced by Greg Baze for 1975's 'Tear Gas' opus before the band was revamped in order to accommodate the 'classic' formation of Mangold, Brooks, Powers and Kithcart. This unit recorded the superior 'Powerhouse' album at House of Music studios in West Orange, New Jersey in 1977.

The band went on to become the better known TOUCH on new label Polydor in 1980, by which time Powers had been replaced by Doug Howard.

Subsequently, Kithcart formed the short-lived 15 MINUTES. Mangold has since enjoyed cult status at the helm of DRIVE, SHE SAID. More recently he formed a Blues project called FLESH AND BLOOD with ex-WAYSTED and TYKETTO vocalist Danny Vaughn.