John Martyn OBE, born Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2… Read Full Bio ↴John Martyn OBE, born Iain David McGeachy (11 September 1948 – 29 January 2009), was a British singer-songwriter and guitarist. Over a forty-year career he released twenty studio albums.
He grew up in Glasgow and attended Shawlands Academy. John Martyn moved to London from Glasgow in the mid 1960s. He made his initial recorded impact in 1967, at the age of 19, with his debut album London Conversation. He then quickly became an integral part of the British music scene, incorporating Folk, Blues, and Jazz into his unique sound.
In the late 60s to early 70s he was close friends with Nick Drake, for whom he wrote the song Solid Air. The album of the same name remains an extremely moving album, as does the later Grace and Danger which documents his divorce from his wife Beverley with whom he recorded several albums (as John & Beverley Martyn).
During the 70s John lived in Hastings on the South Coast of England. Whilst in Hastings he released, amongst others, the Live At Leeds album which he sold from his own house. Also during his time in Hastings John tried to help Paul Kossoff put his life back together.
A long held alcohol problem didn't prevent Martyn from releasing twenty-two albums. In 2003 he contracted an infection that resulted in the amputation of part of a leg, an episode documented in the 2004 BBC documentary "Johnny Too Bad". He recovered, however, and continued to play, record and tour. In 2008, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards. He has influenced many songwriters and guitarists and is an artist whose stature only grows with time. He worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, David Gilmour and Levon Helm.
Sadly, he passed away on 29th January 2009.
A tribute album entitled Johnny Boy Would Love this…a Tribute to John Martyn was released on 15 August 2011, comprising cover versions of his songs by various artists who he had worked with or influenced.
He grew up in Glasgow and attended Shawlands Academy. John Martyn moved to London from Glasgow in the mid 1960s. He made his initial recorded impact in 1967, at the age of 19, with his debut album London Conversation. He then quickly became an integral part of the British music scene, incorporating Folk, Blues, and Jazz into his unique sound.
In the late 60s to early 70s he was close friends with Nick Drake, for whom he wrote the song Solid Air. The album of the same name remains an extremely moving album, as does the later Grace and Danger which documents his divorce from his wife Beverley with whom he recorded several albums (as John & Beverley Martyn).
During the 70s John lived in Hastings on the South Coast of England. Whilst in Hastings he released, amongst others, the Live At Leeds album which he sold from his own house. Also during his time in Hastings John tried to help Paul Kossoff put his life back together.
A long held alcohol problem didn't prevent Martyn from releasing twenty-two albums. In 2003 he contracted an infection that resulted in the amputation of part of a leg, an episode documented in the 2004 BBC documentary "Johnny Too Bad". He recovered, however, and continued to play, record and tour. In 2008, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the BBC Folk Awards. He has influenced many songwriters and guitarists and is an artist whose stature only grows with time. He worked with artists such as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, David Gilmour and Levon Helm.
Sadly, he passed away on 29th January 2009.
A tribute album entitled Johnny Boy Would Love this…a Tribute to John Martyn was released on 15 August 2011, comprising cover versions of his songs by various artists who he had worked with or influenced.
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Head And Heart – The Acoustic John Martyn
John Martyn Lyrics
Bless The Weather Time after time, I held it just to watch it…
Don't Think Twice It's Alright It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe If…
Fairy Tale Lullaby If you want to ride a rainbow, come with me And…
Fine Lines Here a fine line, there a fine line Oh what a…
Go Down Easy You curl around me Like a fern in the spring Lie down…
Go Easy Looking at me you never find out what a working…
Goin' Down to Memphis Now when I woke up this morning My wife she drove…
Head And Heart There's just no way to say how much I love…
In The Evening She was the moon and my unveiling And needed she did…
John The Baptist I'm John the Baptist and this Is my friend Salome And you…
Lay It All Down Darling will you walk with me gentle Come walking through th…
London Conversation In a foreign city once again You waved weekly in the…
May You Never And may you never lay your head down Without a hand…
My Baby Girl My baby girl She's the sweetest in the whole wide world She…
New Day Revolution convolution Circles around the town Give us all s…
Over The Hill I'm going away to leave you, I'm going to leave…
Parcels I'll take your sadness, make it mine And leave the madness…
Patterns In The Rain You cannot hide, not even from yourself; Like me, you'll bla…
Singin' In The Rain I'm singin' in the rain, just singin' in the rain What…
Solid Air You've been taking your time And you've been living on solid…
Spencer The Rover This tune was composed by Spencer the Rover As valiant a…
The Glory Of Love You've got to laugh a little, cry a little Sometimes let…
Traffic-Light Lady All we had between us was a secret Kept for just…
Tree Green And I've been thinking About the wine we're drinking About t…
Ways To Cry If I ever took another woman I was in my need…
Woodstock Perch trees, pine trees Oh there're many kind trees Sparrows…
Working It Out I believe in a minute for every man When he must…