Carl Martin

about

Carl Martin (April 1 or 15, 1906 – May 10, 1979) was an American Piedmont blues musician and vocalist, who was capable with a variety of instruments and musical styles. Martin was born in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, United States. He started making records with a number of groups including the Four Keys, the Tennessee Chocolate Drops, the Wandering Troubadours and as Martin, Bogan and Armstrong. Additionally he accompanied Chicago musicians such as Bumble Bee Slim and Tampa Red throughout the 1930s. His solo work recorded in the 1930s is also notable, songs such as "Crow Jane" and "Old Time Blues" feature his remarkable guitar accompaniment. From this decade onwards, Martin played regularly solo in the Chicago area, with his repertoire extending across blues, jazz, pop, country, and even non-English songs. He played second guitar behind Freddie Spruell, on the 1935 recording of the latter's song, "Let's Go Riding". The track later featured in the soundtrack of the 2001 film, Ghost World. Martin reunited with Bogan, and Armstrong in the 1970s, and played at folk and blues music festivals across the States. Martin died in Pontiac, Michigan, in May 1979, at the age of 73. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.

top songs

albums

Crow Jane Blues

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Carl Martin / Willie '61' Blackwell 1930-1941

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Broadcasting The Blues: Black Blues In The Segregation Era

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Cocaine Blues: Vintage Songs About Cocaine & Heroin

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The Very Best Of Blues Guitar

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Guitar Wizards 1926-1935

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Classic Appalachian Blues from Smithsonian Folkways

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Guitar Wizards: 1926-1935

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Juicin' The Blues

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Mandolin Blues

Farewell To You Baby

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Broadcasting the Blues: Black Blues in the Segregation Era (Compiled and Edited by Paul Oliver)

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