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Martin Carthy - Artist Profile
A legend in his own lifetime, the most important English folk artist of his generation, and still playing folk clubs all over the world. Martin Carthy was born 21st May 1940, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, England. Initially an actor, by the late fifties he had become guitarist and singer with Skiffle group the Thameside Four. Early visits to folk clubs and exposure to the work of Ewan MacColl and particularly A.L. "Bert" Lloyd drew him to then infant folk scene. His first recordings were with The Thamesiders on their 1963 EP but a wider influence was already in evidence. A young Bob Dylan, during his first visit to London in early 60s, had been very impressed by Martin's version of the song Lord Franklin. Dylan used the tune and the narrative style for his own song Bob Dylan's Dream. Paul Simon borrowed Martin's arrangement of Scarborough Fair to create a massive international hit for Simon and Garfunkel.By the mid sixties Martin Carthy was recognised as a virtuoso folk guitarist and was resident at London's top folk club, the Troubadour. Around this time he teamed up with fiddler Dave Swarbrick, skillfully mixing traditional material with contemporary interpretation and establishing a musical rapport that remains undiminished to this day.
Essentially he is at his best in solo performance, his vocal style is cleanly articulated, slightly nasal with a natural vibrato, accompanied by a distinctive guitar style.
He also relishes the challenge of being part of a group. Over the years he has performed with Steeleye Span, with whom he first played electric guitar, The Albion Band, The Watersons (left), which also included his wife Norma Waterson, and Brass Monkey with accordionist John Kirkpatrick and trumpeter Howard Evans. His most recent his group activities have been a family affair, in Waterson Carthy he shares equal billing with wife Norma and fiddle playing daughter Eliza.
Martin Carthy has the ability to take a traditional song, adapt it, often with either a new tune or additional words, and say something contemporary and relevant whilst retaining the work's traditional roots. His intelligent approach made this music more accessible to wider audiences and enriched the British folk heritage.
Martin Carthy at iTunes
Written: 14th Feb, 06
Read: 3316 times
