Press Kit- Mick Martin

Mick Martin is a solo artist. He plays "Traditional American Folk" music on an acoustic guitar. The styles that Mick plays include "Country Blues" and "Appalachian Folk" music. Mick has shared the stage with Sonny Terry and Brownie Mc Gee, Bill Monroe, Keith Whitley, Tom Rush, Norman Blake, Mike Seeger, Robin and Linda Williams, Barbra Mandrell, Vince Gill and many others in the music industry over the years.

Biography- Mick Martin

As a child in Appalachia Mick Martin grew up listening to the mountain music that was a natural part if his surroundings, which is evident in his unique sound and guitar picking style - it's true "Country Blues". Mick’s mom was a singer. Her sisters, one a harmonica player and the other a guitar player and singer had played and sung on the radio as a trio. Other close relatives who lived in the deep and rolling hills of Appalachia played the fiddle and banjo while calling square dances. Mick's aunt, who is 89 years old, still sings "Old Southern Gospel" music as she did in church more than 80 years ago. As a young adult Mick traveled around the country playing music, supporting himself financially by performing as both a solo act and with a band. He also has a passion for teaching and taught guitar for several years at “The Music Emporium” which is now located near Boston, Mass.

On his new album titled "Revelator" - Mick Martin has reworked old blues and jazz songs by the likes of Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, and Blind Willie McTell. Musicians of this kind are quite a rare breed today - they played with true emotion, and played because they loved to. They had no ulterior motives, no hopes of glory and fame… they played the blues.

It takes someone special, someone that has lived a particular type of life - to relate to this type of attitude and rewrite music of this kind while maintaining its integrity. Mick Martin has done just that.

When asked in an interview why he chose to make an album of classic blues songs, Mick replied “to reveal some hidden gems… to present classic songs in a new and different way.”

From birth, to childhood, through his travels as a young adult and time spent playing music, Mick has lived the life of a true blues and folk musician. He is a rare specimen that provides us with a glimpse into a time where music was about something more than money, corporate sponsorships, fame, and all the other distractions that are a part of today’s industry.

Awards and Distinctions

Philadelphia Folk Festival- 1973

Guitar Workshop

 

America’s Bicentennial Celebration- July 2nd, 3rd and 4th   1976

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 

Nomination for a Hugo Award

Western Pennsylvania Conservancy

Musical Score

 

 

Sound

 

Mick Martin is an acoustic guitar player, keeping the “American Traditional Blues and Folk Music” alive- staying to the traditional sound.

 

 

Festival

 

Mick has played many music festivals over the years including local and national folk festivals. Most of the festivals that Mick Martin had played were of the Folk, Blues and Bluegrass genre.

 

 

Recordings

 

Jazzum Records- Rocketship Rag

 

Revelator-

1. Pay Day                         2. Bye Bye Blackbird
3. St. James Infirmary       4. Brokedown Engine
5. Parchman Farm             6. I Got Ramblin on my mind'
7. John the Revelator        8. Whinin' Boy Blues
9. My Babe                       10.MaMa, T'aint Long Before The Day

 

Movie Scores, Plays and many Advertisement Commercials (Radio & TV).

 

Members

 

Mick Martin is a solo performer who includes Rick Malis on many engagements.

 

External links

 

Website:  http://www.mick-martin.com

 

Email:  mickmartindotcom@yahoo.com

 

Review:  http://flatpickpost.blogspot.com/2008/06/mmr.html

 

 

Mick Martin