Martin Carthy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martin Carthy
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Performing with The Imagined Village
at Camp Bestival, July 2008 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martin Dominic Forbes Carthy |
| Born | 21 May 1941 Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England |
| Origin | London, England |
| Genres |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | |
| Years active | 1960–present |
| Labels |
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| 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 |
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Martin Dominic Forbes Carthy MBE (born 21 May 1941) is a famous English singer and guitar player. He has been a very important person in English folk music for a long time. He even inspired famous musicians like Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. Martin Carthy became well-known in the 1960s and 1970s during the British folk revival, a time when traditional folk music became popular again in the UK.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Martin Carthy was born in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. He grew up in Hampstead, a part of North West London. His parents were very involved in social and political work. His father had played the fiddle and guitar when he was young. However, Martin did not know about this musical connection until much later.
Martin's own musical journey started when he became a singer in a church choir. He first picked up his father's old guitar after hearing the song "Rock Island Line" by Lonnie Donegan. He was also greatly influenced by the guitar styles of Big Bill Broonzy and Elizabeth Cotten. At just 16 years old, Martin had his first professional music performance.
Even though his father wanted him to go to university, Martin left school at 17. He worked in theatre for a while before becoming a regular performer at The Troubadour folk club in London. In 1961, he joined a group called Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four.
A key moment for Martin was seeing the singer Sam Larner perform. Larner's way of singing a traditional folk song completely changed how Martin thought about music. This helped him develop his own unique style.
Meeting Bob Dylan
In 1962, the American singer Bob Dylan came to London for the first time. He visited Martin Carthy at The Troubadour club. Dylan learned the traditional song "Scarborough Fair" from Martin. Later, Bob Dylan used parts of this song to create his own famous song, "Girl from the North Country".
Martin Carthy's Unique Musical Style
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Martin Carthy is mostly known for performing traditional songs by himself. He plays an acoustic guitar in a very special way. He often uses unusual guitar tunings and a strong, rhythmic picking style. This helps him highlight the melody of the songs.
In 1964, Martin joined a group called The Three City Four. They focused on newer songs and made two albums. Martin sang lead vocals on some of their tracks.
His first solo album, Martin Carthy, came out in 1965. On this album, he played with Dave Swarbrick, a fiddle player. Martin's version of "Scarborough Fair" was later used by Paul Simon for the Simon and Garfunkel album Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme. Paul Simon did not give Martin credit at the time, which caused some problems between them. However, they later made up, and Paul Simon invited Martin to sing the song with him on stage in 2000.
Musical Collaborations and Bands
Martin Carthy has worked with many other musicians and groups throughout his career.
- He has sung with The Watersons since 1972.
- He was a member of the British folk rock band Steeleye Span twice.
- He joined the Albion Country Band in 1973.
- He was part of the unique group Brass Monkey. This band mixed brass instruments with Martin's guitar and mandolin.
- Martin was also a member of The Imagined Village, a band that released three albums.
For many years, Martin 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 a group called Waterson:Carthy.
Personal Life
Martin Carthy has lived for many years in Robin Hood's Bay, a beautiful place in North Yorkshire.
Awards and Honours
Martin Carthy has received many awards for his contributions to music:
- In 1998, he was given an MBE by the Queen. This is a special honour in the UK.
- 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 an award for Best Traditional Track.
- In 2007, Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick won Best Duo.
- He was given an Honorary Fellowship from the University of Central Lancashire in 2008.
- In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Discography
Martin Carthy has released many albums, both on his own and with other musicians. Here are some of his main albums:
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
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
