Singer-Songwriter John Martyn Passes Away at 60

by Staff.

Modern Guitars is saddened to report the death of British-born master guitarist and singer-songwriter, John Martyn, OBE (September 11, 1948 – January 29, 2009) of pneumonia. Martyn’s music evolved from straight folk music to innovative electronic-acoustic work using an Echoplex, a fuzz box and phase shifter. The resulting asymmetric loops produced cascading melodic riffs armed with captivating rhythmic intent.

The son of two opera singers, Martyn (Iain David McGeachy) landed on the British blues-folk scene during the 1960s, signing with Island Records in 1967 where he recorded his seminal London Conversation, an album that continues to reflect a high watermark of British folk music. Soon, John would fuse jazz to his emerging unique style beginning with his second album, The Tumbler.

He collaborated with his wife, Beverly Kutner, on their 1970 album Stormbringer and later that year on The Road to Ruin. On Stormbringer, their vocals blended in an uncanny style in such wonders as “Traffic Light Lady.” But, it was his Bless the Weather and Solid Air albums that would follow and gather fans and admirers around the world. His 1974 Sunday's Child album would pull in a bit of funk to add to his cauldron of folk, jazz, blues and rock.

From Bless the Weather, the group America would cover "Head and Heart," and later Eric Clapton would pull “May You Never” from Solid Air. His work was also covered by Richie Havens, Beck, Black Crowes, Taj Majal, Spyro Gyra, Dr. John, Joe Bonamassa and an eclectic mix of other musicians.

Rick Landers, Feature Editor, Modern Guitars magazine stated, "I saw John perform while I attended college in England in the '70s and later at the Bayou in D.C. He was a remarkable musician. And as profound and magical as his instrumental work was, his bending baritone vocals would slowly wrap around his lyrics in ways that were incredibly moving and as perfect as those heard from some of those ancient Delta bluesmen who's vocals seem to unravel languidly, achingly and always beautifully."

John Martyn leaves us with a legacy of 30 albums that offer deeply moving love songs, plaintiff lyrical yearnings and the most tasteful couplings of folk, blues, jazz, funk, rock and traditional musical styles.

And though he used no poetry
His words are weaving songs
And the peace they were recalling
Were good roads that you might have walked along
(John Martyn - "London Conversation"}

Martyn’s musical contributions were honored in 2006 with a BBC Radio 2 lifetime achievement award. Earlier this month, he was awarded the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).

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