Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE (born 12 August 1949) is a British singer-songwriter, guitarist, record producer and film score composer. He was born in Glasgow but raised in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. He is best known for having been the lead guitarist, lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded with his younger brother, David Knopfler, in 1977.