Biography

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1942, Martin worked occasional summer jobs in the old mill buildings along the Merrimack River and had actually worked in the mill complex shown in the picture above. A self-taught musician from the age of fourteen, Martin travelled extensively throughout the United States, occasionally playing harmonica on the street. He eventually settled in the Boston area to attend Suffolk University. During the sixties Martin was greatly influenced by the Cambridge folk scene and began playing guitar and developed a following at the Nameless Coffee House, The Club 47 and several other venues in the Cambridge area.

In 1972 he went to Nashville and, with the help of Chet Atkins and various Nashville studio musicians, recorded his first album on RCA entitled "Midwest Farm Disaster'. He spent the next couple of years performing around the country. He shared the stage with Richie Havens, John Sabastian, Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and many others. But in 1974, having become disillusioned with the music industry, Martin took what money he had made from the record contract and relocated his wife and two children to their farm in West Virginia.

In 1982 Martin recorded his second album "Last Chance Rider "for June Appal Records. The album was chosen one of the top three folk albums in the country by The National Association of Independent Record Distributors (NAIRD). Martin then returned to Lowell, Massachusetts and began to perform occasionally in the New England area.

In 1997 he recorded his third album on CD entitled "The River Turns The Wheel", and released it through an independent label, Riversong Records. Bill Morrissey, along with Cormac McCarthy and other friends added some backing vocals to the new CD which has received a lot of national attention and air play. The CD reached number sixteen on The Gavin Americana Chart and was chosen one of the top ten albums in 1997 by Brad Kava of The San Jose Mercury News. Dave Perry of The Lowell Sun chose it as the best folk album of 1997. Tom Flannery of The Electric City News also chose it as the best CD of that year.

Martin has begun to perform again nationally and has generated rave reviews. Si Kahn called Martin "one of the best songwriters in the country". Charlie Hunter in Fast Folk Magazine referred to Martin as "one of the best narrative songwriters in America".

Discography

1. Midwestern Farm Disaster, RCA, 1972, ASCAP

Bob Martin - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica; David Briggs-Keyboard; Norbet Putnam-Bass; Kenny Butry-Drums; Bill Sanford-Dobro and Guitar and various Nashville Sidemen

2. Last Chance Rider, June Appal Records, 1982, ASCAP Bob Martin - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica; Keith Durham-Electric Guitar; Dirk Johnson-Keyboard; Peter Mareneck- Bass Guitar; Eddie Trent-Pedal Steel; Marion Sumner-Fiddle; Roger Hall- Banjo; Malcolm Hams-Clarinet; Rick Jones-Drums; Thelma Poole Carolyn Clarke, Josie Ellis-Backup Vocals.

3. The River Turns The Wheel, Riversong Records, 1997, ASCAP Bob Martin-Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar; Ray Brunnelle-Drums; Kent Allyn-Bass; Sandy Goulet- Backing Vocals; Edie Martin- Piano; Bill Martin- Guitar; Bill Morrissey, Cormac McCarthy, Jack Wright, Anne Marie Martin, Rosie Buesking Backing Vocals

Blind Marie, composed and written by Martin for the first album on RCA has been recorded by two other artists: Jack Wright along with Robin and Linda Williams recorded the song on June Appal Records. The song was also recorded by Don Lang on Flying Fish.

Some Reviews in Summary

"With Martin's music it is the sheer excellence of the songs themselves and of the lyrics within one of the best narrative songwriters in America." Charlie Hunter, Fast Folk Magazine

"Martin is a major talent whose well-wrought narratives are effective as both social statement and as moving or humorous reminiscence." Penthouse Magazine

"Throughout, Martin writes with a keen eye, recalling at times the depth Bruce Springsteen captures in the characters of The Ghost of Tom Joad...Fans can find plenty of themselves in the work of this brilliant singer-songwriter." Dave Perry- The Lowell Sun

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