[2][3] In 1986, Bryan and his friend Darius Rucker formed a duo called the Wolf Brothers while attending the University of South Carolina.

He attended Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland, and received his bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism from the University of South Carolina in 1989.

While attending the university, he collaborated with Darius Rucker to create an acoustic duo band called The Wolf Brothers.

Hootie and the Blowfish is an American rock band formed at the University of South Carolina by Darius Rucker, Dean Felber, Jim Sonefeld, and Mark Bryan in 1986.

Bryan has also created, executive produced, and hosted a Southeast Emmy Award winning show called Live at the Charleston Music Hall.