4087232949.jpg &&& Mark E. King had something of an epiphany in the 1980s. It came in the form of a heart attack, which set his life on a different track. Until then, Mark had been a popular singer, performing with local groups, the likes of soul singer Billy Paul, the Village People and the Philadelphia group First Choice. He also performed with local groups Three Million and Unity, which got some airtime with their discs, but after his heart attack, Mark decided to devote himself entirely to gospel. Mark, who played piano, keyboard and organ and was a tenor who could hit the highest notes of a song, died Monday. He was 55 and lived in Media. Among gospel stars he performed with were the late Rev. Dr. James Cleveland in Los Angeles and Dorothy Norwood. Mark always played and sang gospel, even while performing popular music. He would sometimes play and sing at a local church, then fly to another city to prepare for his next performance. But after his heart attack, he stayed with gospel. He was in demand at area churches, and also performed at funerals, weddings and other events. "He was really talented," said his wife, the former Jeanie Dian Connor. "He could hit those high notes like Little Richard. And he was a really nice guy who loved to laugh. He enjoyed a good joke, no matter how corny it might have been." Mark was born to Eugene Edward King Sr. and Gertrude "Betty" Randolph in Chester. The family later moved to Media, where Mark was a member of and performer at the Second Baptist Church. He graduated from Nether Providence High School and went on to study piano, theory and harmony at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. He spent a year studying music at West Chester University. A chance to play with the Jackson Five caused him to leave college and sent him to California, but that fell through. It was then that he met and performed with James Cleveland, a major influence in gospel music. With First Choice, the Philadelphia-based female singing trio, he played piano, working on disco hits like "Armed and Extremely Dangerous," "Love Thang," "Let No Man Put Asunder," and others. The Three Million group produced such hits as "I've Got the Hots for You" and "I've Been Robbed." Mark always managed to make a living with his music. For 19 years, he was the music minister of Love Zion Baptist Church, 23rd Street near Sergeant in North Philadelphia, and had contracts with other churches to provide their music. He was a dapper dresser, always well-turned-out in matching suits and accessories, and always with a hat. He got the nickname "GQ" for his spiffy attire. He was particulary pleased when someone called him "Morris Day," referring to the lead singer of The Time, who gained fame for his dress and style after appearing with Prince in "Purple Rain." Mark and Jeanie Connor were married in 2003. Besides his wife, he is survived by a stepson, Ervin Faust. Services: 10 a.m. Saturday at Rome Emmanuel Baptist Church, 11th Street and Lehigh Avenue. Friends may call at 8:30 a.m. Burial will be in Northwood Cemetery. *