Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy is an English folk singer and guitarist from Hatfield, United Kingdom. Born in 1941, he grows up in Hampstead, London and becomes one of the most influential figures in British traditional music during the early folk revival. His playing is known for alternate tunings and a strongly percussive picking style that places emphasis on melody, and he accompanies himself on an old Martin guitar. He also trains as an actor before turning to singing in coffee bars.

Career

Carthy becomes a resident performer at the Troubador folk club in Earls Court in the late 1950s. He joins Redd Sullivan's Thameside Four in 1961, and later establishes himself as a solo performer of traditional songs. His debut album, Martin Carthy, appears in 1965 and includes fiddle playing from Dave Swarbrick on some tracks, though Swarbrick is not credited in the sleeve notes.

Groups and collaborations

He sings with The Watersons from 1972 and is an early member of Steeleye Span. His other group work includes Brass Monkey, a group that combines brass instruments with Carthy's guitar and mandolin and John Kirkpatrick's accordion, melodeon and concertina. He also has a long creative partnership with Dave Swarbrick. With Norma Waterson and their daughter Eliza Carthy, he performs in Waterson:Carthy. He is also associated with The Three City Four, The Albion Band, Blue Murder, Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick, The Imagined Village, Keith Hancock Band and Band of Hope.

Recognition

Carthy receives an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours in 1998. He is named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002, and again in 2005, when he also wins Best Traditional Track for "Famous Flower of Serving Men".

Style and influence

He is widely associated with British traditional music and with the folk rock and Celtic strands of folk performance. His work influences later musicians including Richard Thompson, while earlier contemporaries such as Bob Dylan and Paul Simon are among those inspired by his approach.