My beloved John Martyn (born in 1949)died in Ireland yesterday. He was one of the most prominent English songwriter and guitarist. He was also a great experimenter with his instrument and a fabulous mixer of musical genres.
His releases in the '60s and '70s are already in the book of musical history and deep in the hearts of his numerous fans. Among them I like to name a few: his first album London Conversation (1967), Stormbringer ('69), Bless the Weather (71), Solid Air ('73, probably the best known of John's albums. He dedicated the title track to his friend and peer Nick Drake), Live at Leeds ('75, 10.000 signed and numbered copies directly mailed to fans).
In the early '80s his marriage with Beverley broke down and John heavily pushed the button of self-destruction: "You name it, I soaked myself in it...It was a dark period in my life". Yet his music went on with albums, anthologies and live performances until most recent years ( Grace and Danger ('80), Foundation ('87), On the Cobbles (2004) ), even though his health progressively deteriorated and in 2003 he got an infection that resulted in the amputation of John's right leg below the knee.
I'm sure that now John has found the peace and real happy time that he searched during all his life. Have a great party up there, sweet man!
(John Martyn and Kathy Mattea singing/playing "May You Never" with Danny Thompson on bass and Jerry Douglas on dobro)
No comments:
Post a Comment