British songwriting legend John Martyn has passed away aged 60.Born Iain David McGeachy in September 1948, a forty-one year career has seen Martyn release 20 studio albums and numerous live records. He is regarded as one of the most influential British songwriters of all time and his seminal album, Solid Air, is regularly named in “Greatest Album” polls around the world.
Many of his albums are at times wildly experimental and, and his genre defying tendencies may have cost him the widespread commercial success that looked likely after Solid Air was released in 1973.
His erratic flirtations with folk, blues, jazz, rock and even reggae may have confounded many, but his body of work speaks for itself. In a forty year career Martyn created some of the most inventive and surprising music of all time.
During his career he worked with artists such as Phil Collins (repeatedly), David Gilmour and Eric Clapton.
Martyn was also made an OBE in the Queen’s Honours List in the New Year.
His personal life saw its fair share of upheavals and dramas with two failed marriages and a battle with alcoholism, followed in 2003 by the trauma of losing his right leg. Despite this Martyn continued to play live, with his most recent tour just last year.
The cause of death has not been revealed.
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