Martin Carthy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Carthy
|
|
|---|---|
Performing with The Imagined Village
at Camp Bestival, July 2008 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martin Dominic Forbes Carthy |
| Born | 21 May 1941 Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Labels |
|
| Associated acts | Waterson:Carthy Blue Murder The Watersons Steeleye Span Albion Country Band Brass Monkey The Imagined Village Dave Swarbrick |
| Spouse(s) |
Norma Waterson
(m. 1972; |
| Children | Eliza Carthy |
| Relatives |
|
Martin Carthy, born on May 21, 1941, is a famous English singer and guitarist. He is known as one of the most important people in English folk music. He has inspired many other musicians, including well-known artists like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Martin Carthy became famous during the folk music revival in the UK in the 1960s and 1970s.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Martin Carthy was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. He grew up in Hampstead, North West London. His father had played the fiddle and guitar when he was younger. Martin did not know about this musical connection until much later. Martin's own musical journey started when he sang in the choir at the Queen's Chapel of The Savoy.
He first picked up his father's old guitar after hearing "Rock Island Line" by Lonnie Donegan. He was greatly influenced by folk musicians like Big Bill Broonzy and Elizabeth Cotten. Martin had his first professional performance at age 16 at a coffee bar called The Loft.
Even though his father wanted him to go to university, Martin left school at 17. He worked in theaters, first as a prompter and then as an assistant stage manager. In the early 1960s, he became a regular performer at the Troubadour folk club in London. He joined a group called Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four in 1961.
How Martin Carthy Found His Style
In the early 1960s, Martin Carthy visited a club to watch a friend perform. The main singer that night was Sam Larner. Martin has said that Larner's performance of "Lofty Tall Ship" completely changed how he thought a traditional folk song could be sung. This moment was very important in Martin's journey to becoming the artist he is today.
Martin Carthy and Bob Dylan
When American singer Bob Dylan first came to London in 1962, he visited Martin Carthy at different clubs. Dylan learned the traditional song "Scarborough Fair" from Martin. Bob Dylan later used parts of this song to create his own famous song, "Girl from the North Country".
Martin Carthy's Musical Career
.jpg)
Martin Carthy mostly performs by himself. He sings traditional songs in a very special way, playing his acoustic guitar. He uses unique guitar tunings and a strong, rhythmic picking style that makes the melody stand out.
In 1964, Martin joined a group called The Three City Four. This group focused on modern songs. They released two albums. Martin sang lead vocals on two songs on their first album, The Three City Four, which came out in 1965.
Martin Carthy's first solo album, Martin Carthy, was released in 1965. Dave Swarbrick played the fiddle on some songs on this album. Martin's version of "Scarborough Fair" was later used by Paul Simon for the Simon and Garfunkel album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme in 1966. This caused a disagreement between them. They finally made up when Paul Simon invited Martin to sing the song with him on stage in 2000.
Musical Collaborations
Martin Carthy has worked with many other musicians and groups.
- He has sung with The Watersons since 1972.
- He was a member of the British folk rock group Steeleye Span twice.
- He was part of the Albion Country Band in 1973, which recorded the Battle of the Field album.
- He was also in the group Brass Monkey. This group combined brass instruments with Martin's guitar and mandolin, and John Kirkpatrick's accordion.
- Martin Carthy was a member of The Imagined Village for all three of their albums (2007–2012).
For many years, Martin Carthy worked closely with fiddle player Dave Swarbrick. More recently, he has had a successful musical partnership with his wife, Norma Waterson, and their daughter, Eliza Carthy, in the group Waterson:Carthy.
Martin Carthy's music has inspired many artists, including Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, and Richard Thompson.
Personal Life
Martin Carthy has lived for many years in Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire.
Awards and Honours
Martin Carthy has received many awards for his contributions to music:
- In June 1998, he was made an MBE by the Queen.
- He was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002 and again in 2005.
- In 2005, he also won the award for Best Traditional Track for "The Famous Flower of Serving-Men".
- In 2007, Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick won Best Duo at the Folk Awards.
- In 2008, he became an Honorary Fellow of the University of Central Lancashire.
- In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Discography
Solo and Collaborative Albums
- Martin Carthy (1965) with Dave Swarbrick
- Second Album (1966) with Dave Swarbrick
- Byker Hill (1967) with Dave Swarbrick
- But Two Came By (1968) with Dave Swarbrick
- Prince Heathen (1969) with Dave Swarbrick
- Landfall (1971)
- Shearwater (1972)
- Sweet Wivelsfield (1974)
- Crown of Horn (1976)
- Because It's There (1979)
- Out of the Cut (1982)
- Right of Passage (1988)
- Life and Limb (1990) with Dave Swarbrick
- Skin and Bone (1992) with Dave Swarbrick
- Signs of Life (1998)
- Waiting for Angels (2004)
- Straws in the Wind (2006) with Dave Swarbrick
- The Moral of the Elephant (2014) with Eliza Carthy
- Transform Me Then Into a Fish (2025)
Albums with Steeleye Span
- Please to See the King (1971)
- Ten Man Mop, or Mr. Reservoir Butler Rides Again (1971)
- Storm Force Ten (1977)
- Live at Last (1978)
Albums with The Watersons and Waterson:Carthy
- The Watersons: For Pence and Spicy Ale (1975)
- The Watersons: Sound, Sound Your Instruments of Joy (1977)
- The Watersons: Green Fields (1981)
- Waterson:Carthy: Waterson:Carthy (1994)
- Waterson:Carthy: Common Tongue (1996)
- Waterson:Carthy: Broken Ground (1999)
- Waterson:Carthy: A Dark Light (2002)
- Waterson:Carthy: Fishes & Fine Yellow Sand (2004)
- Waterson:Carthy: Holy Heathens and the Old Green Man (2006)
Albums with Brass Monkey
- Brass Monkey (1984)
- See How It Runs (1986)
- Sound and Rumour (1999)
- Going and Staying (2001)
- Flame of Fire (2004)
- Head of Steam (2009)
See also
In Spanish: Martin Carthy para niños
