John Martyn

John Martyn was a Scottish singer-songwriter known for fusing British folk with blues, jazz, and early use of guitar effects. Influenced by Davey Graham and mentored by Hamish Imlach, he became a key figure in London’s late-1960s folk scene and the first white solo artist signed to Island Records. Martyn pioneered live Echoplex looping, collaborated with artists such as Nick Drake, Danny Thompson, Phil Collins, and Eric Clapton, and recorded with members of the Band. Albums like Solid Air and Grace and Danger remain touchstones of his restless, genre-crossing work.