John Martyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Martyn
OBE |
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Martyn in 1978
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Iain David McGeachy |
| Born | 11 September 1948 New Malden, Surrey, England |
| Died | 29 January 2009 (aged 60) Thomastown, Ireland |
| Genres | Folk blues, progressive folk, folk-rock, folk jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1967–2009 |
| Labels | Island, WEA |
| Associated acts | Beverley Martyn |
John Martyn (born Iain David McGeachy; 11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009) was a talented British guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was known for his unique musical style. Over his 40-year career, he released 23 studio albums. Many people praised his music. The Times newspaper called him "an electrifying guitarist and singer." His music blended different styles like folk, jazz, rock, and blues.
Martyn started his music journey at age 17. He became an important part of the Scottish folk music scene. He found inspiration in American blues and English traditional music. He later signed with Island Records. By the 1970s, he began adding jazz and rock sounds to his music. You can hear this on albums like Solid Air (1973) and One World (1977). He also experimented with guitar effects and tape delay machines. He continued making music until he passed away in 2009.
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Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Martyn was born in New Malden, Surrey, England. His parents were both opera singers. They divorced when he was five years old. He spent his childhood living between Scotland and England. He mostly lived with his father and grandmother in Shawlands, Glasgow. He also spent holidays on his mother's houseboat.
Martyn learned to change his accent easily. He could speak with a strong or softer Glasgow accent. He could also use a southern English accent. He went to Shawlands Academy in Glasgow. At school, he enjoyed playing rugby. After school, he studied at Glasgow School of Art. But he left to focus on his dream of becoming a musician.
John Martyn's Music Career
Starting Out in the 1960s and 1970s
John Martyn began his professional music career at 17. He was guided by musician Hamish Imlach. Martyn played a mix of blues and folk music. This created his special sound. It made him a key figure in the British folk scene in the mid-1960s. He signed with Chris Blackwell's Island Records in 1967. That same year, he released his first album, London Conversation. His second album, The Tumbler, came out in 1968. It showed him moving more towards jazz music.
By 1970, Martyn had a truly unique sound. He used an acoustic guitar with special effects. These included a fuzzbox, a phase shifter, and an Echoplex (a type of delay machine). This new sound first appeared on Stormbringer!, released in February 1970.
Stormbringer! was created by Martyn and his wife at the time, Beverley. She had recorded music before as Beverley Kutner. Their second album together, The Road to Ruin, came out in November 1970. Island Records decided it would be better to promote Martyn as a solo artist. So, his next albums were solo projects. However, Beverley still sang backing vocals sometimes.
In 1971, Martyn released his third solo album, Bless the Weather. In February 1973, he released Solid Air. The title song was a tribute to his close friend and fellow musician, Nick Drake. Nick Drake sadly passed away in 1974. In 2009, a special double CD version of Solid Air was released. It included unreleased songs and notes about the album. On Bless the Weather and Solid Air, Martyn worked with jazz bassist Danny Thompson. They continued to make music together for many years.
After Solid Air became popular, Martyn quickly recorded Inside Out in 1973. This album was more experimental. It focused on feeling and improvisation rather than strict song structures. In 1975, he released Sunday's Child. This album had more traditional songs. It included "My Baby Girl" and "Spencer the Rover," which were about his young family. Martyn later said this time was "very happy." In September 1975, he released a live album called Live at Leeds. He had to sell copies himself by mail because Island Records didn't want to release it. Live at Leeds featured Danny Thompson and drummer John Stevens.
After Live at Leeds, Martyn took a break. He visited Jamaica and spent time with reggae producer Lee "Scratch" Perry. In 1977, he released One World. Some people even called Martyn the "Father of Trip-Hop" because of this album. It had songs like "Small Hours" and "Big Muff." "Big Muff" was a collaboration with Lee "Scratch" Perry. "Small Hours" was recorded outdoors. The microphones picked up sounds like geese from a nearby lake! In 1978, he played guitar on the album Harmony of the Spheres by Neil Ardley.
Music in the 1980s
Martyn's marriage ended in the late 1970s. This difficult time led to his album Grace and Danger. It was released in October 1980. Chris Blackwell, a close friend of John and Beverley, held back the album for a year. He found it too sad and personal to release. Martyn had to push hard for it to be released. Martyn said, "I was in a dreadful emotional state over that record. Grace and Danger was very healing, and it really hurt."
Later in the 1980s, Martyn said Grace and Danger was his favorite album. He called it "probably the most specific piece of autobiography I've written." He added, "Some people keep diaries, I make records." This album is now considered one of his best. A special double-disc version was released in 2007.
Phil Collins played drums and sang backing vocals on Grace and Danger. He also played drums and produced Martyn's next album, Glorious Fool, in 1981. Martyn left Island Records in 1981. He recorded Glorious Fool and Well Kept Secret for WEA. Well Kept Secret became his first album to reach the Top 30 charts. In 1983, Martyn released a live album, Philentropy. He married Annie Furlong, but they later separated. He returned to Island Records and released Sapphire (1984), Piece by Piece (1986), and the live album Foundations (1987). He left the label again in 1988.
Later Years: 1990s and 2000s
Martyn released The Apprentice in 1990 and Cooltide in 1991. These were on Permanent Records. He worked with Phil Collins again for No Little Boy (1993). This album featured new versions of some of his older songs. Another album from 1992, Couldn't Love You More, was released without his permission. Martyn did not approve of it.
His album And (1996) came out on Go! Discs. On this album, Martyn used a lot of trip-hop sounds. This style was even more clear on his 2000 album, Glasgow Walker. The Church with One Bell (1998) was an album of cover songs. He sang blues classics and songs by other artists like Portishead and Ben Harper. In 2001, Martyn appeared on the song "Deliver Me" by Faithless keyboard player and DJ Sister Bliss.
In July 2006, a documentary called Johnny Too Bad was shown by the BBC. The program showed the time when Martyn had an operation to remove his right leg. This was due to a serious infection. It also showed him writing and recording On the Cobbles (2004). A BBC Music reviewer called On the Cobbles "the strongest, most consistent set he's come up with in years." Much of this album returned to his earlier acoustic sound.
John Martyn's last concerts were in November 2008. He played songs from his Grace and Danger album. In collaboration with his keyboard player Spenser Cozens, Martyn wrote music for the film Strangebrew (2007). This film won an award at the London Short Film Festival. The film's ideas also influenced the design of Martyn's album Heaven and Earth (2011).
On 4 February 2008, Martyn received a special lifetime achievement award. This was at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. His friend Phil Collins presented the award. The BBC website said Martyn's "heartfelt performances have either suggested or fully demonstrated an idiosyncratic genius." Eric Clapton said Martyn was "so far ahead of everything, it's almost inconceivable."
To celebrate Martyn's 60th birthday, Island Records released a 4-CD box set. It was called Ain't No Saint and came out on 1 September 2008. The set included unreleased studio music and rare live recordings.
Martyn was given the OBE award in the 2009 New Year Honours. This is a special award from the British King or Queen. He passed away a few weeks later. His partner, Theresa Walsh, accepted the award at Buckingham Palace. Martyn had recorded new music before he died. His final studio album, Heaven and Earth, was finished and released after his death in May 2011. The album notes said, "all the tracks on this recording were kept as John wished — in their entirety."
John Martyn's Passing
John Martyn passed away on 29 January 2009. He was in a hospital in Thomastown, Ireland. He died from a serious breathing problem. He had been living in Thomastown with his partner Theresa Walsh. He is remembered by his partner and his children, Mhairi, Wesley, and Spencer McGeachy.
Tributes to John Martyn
After Martyn's death, Rolling Stone magazine praised his "progressive folk invention and improvising sorcery." His friend and fellow musician Phil Collins shared his sadness. Collins said, "John's passing is terribly, terribly sad. He was a great friend. He was unique and we'll never see the likes of him again. I loved him dearly and will miss him very much."
Mike Harding hosted an hour-long tribute to Martyn on his BBC Radio 2 program. A tribute album, Johnny Boy Would Love This, was released on 15 August 2011. It featured other artists singing cover versions of his songs.
A special concert called "Grace & Danger: A Celebration of John Martyn" was held on 27 January 2019. This concert at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall marked ten years since his death. It was organized by Danny Thompson. Artists like Eddi Reader, Eric Bibb, and Paul Weller performed. They aimed to honor Martyn's best songs and capture his spirit.
Images for kids
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Martyn in 1978
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Martyn performing at the Barbican Centre in London, 2008
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Martyn in 2006
See also
In Spanish: John Martyn para niños
