MARTIN SEXTON
BIO:
A native of Syracuse, N.Y., and the tenth of 12 children, Martin Sexton grew up in the ’80s. Uninterested in the music of the day, he fueled his dreams with the timeless sounds of classic rock ’n’ roll. As he discovered the dusty old vinyl left in the basement by one his big brothers, his musical fire was lit. Sexton eventually migrated to Boston, where he began to build a following singing on the streets of Harvard Square, gradually working his way through the scene. His 1992 collection of self-produced demo recordings, In the Journey, was recorded on an old 8-track in a friend’s attic. He managed to sell 20,000 copies out of his guitar case.
From 1996 to 2002 Sexton released Black Sheep, The American, Wonder Bar and Live Wide Open. The activity and worldwide touring behind these records laid the foundation for the career he enjoys today with an uncommonly loyal fan base; he sells out venues from New York’s Nokia Theatre to L.A.’s House of Blues, and tours regularly across Canada and Europe.
Happily and fiercely independent, Martin Sexton launched his own label, KTR, in 2002. Since then he has infiltrated many musical worlds, performing at concerts ranging from pop (collaborating with John Mayer) to the Jam scene to classic rock (collaborating with Peter Frampton); from the Newport Folk Fest to Bonnaroo to New Orleans Jazz Fest to a performance at Carnegie Hall.
Regardless of his reputation as a musician’s musician, Sexton can’t keep Hollywood away. His songs can be heard in many feature films and television including NBC’s Scrubs, Parenthood and Showtime’s hit series Brotherhood.
Stage, film and television aside, when Sexton isn’t touring he often mixes
entertainment with his sense of social responsibility, performing at benefits for Paul Newman’s Hole in the Wall Gang camp, the Children’s Tumor Foundation, Japan earthquake/tsunami relief (The John Lennon Tribute), and Hurricane Irene relief efforts in Vermont, to name some.
In 2007 Sexton began his most successful years to date with the release of his studio offering Seeds. The album debuted at #6 on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart, and the Los Angeles Times said, “Call him a soul shouter, a road poet, a folkie or a rocker and you wouldn’t be wrong.”
The live CD/DVD set Solo, which includes a DVD of his performance at Denver’s Mile High Festival, followed in 2008.
In 2010 the album Sugarcoating found this one-of-a-kind-troubadour doing what he does best: locating larger truths. After hearing it, NBC anchor Brian Williams sought Martin out to sit down for an interview backstage at New York’s Beacon Theatre. It’s now featured on MSNBC’s BriTunes.
The accolades continue. Billboard called Sexton’s version of “Working Class Hero” for the Lennon tribute/benefit in 2010 “chill-inspiring.” Released this November as part of The 30th Annual John Lennon Tribute album, the track is available on iTunes.
The New York Times noted that this artist “jumps beyond standard fare on the strength of his voice, a blue-eyed soul man’s supple instrument,” adding, “his unpretentious heartiness helps him focus on every soul singer’s goal: to amplify the sound of the ordinary heart.”
Billboard called Sexton “The real thing, people, a star with potential to permanently affect the musical landscape and keep us entertained for years to come.”
|
|
|
Latest Articles
KT TUNSTALL Adds More Dates to North American Tour
by Michael Major - March 21, 2023
KT TUNSTALL is ready to hit the road for a North American run of live shows beginning April 20th with four shows in eastern Canada before heading south to the U.S. - beginning on April 28th in Boston and following through hitting such markets as New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis, Los Ange...
KT TUNSTALL Announces North American Tour
by Michael Major - January 24, 2023
The tour follows on the heels of a string of European dates that begin in February, running through March, including sixteen shows all around the UK. The upcoming U.S. shows mark Tunstall’s first extended date tour here since 2019 and will support her recently released seventh studio album, NUT. Che...
Seth Glier Releases New Single 'Somebody Break My Heart'
by Michael Major - September 30, 2021
The song features instruments like the Plethora (waterphone), samples of water, and crushed sand that tie in with the song's theme, while the mesmerizing visuals follow a graceful aquatic dancer through the deep oceans and above magnificent reefs for a most calming, lucid experience....
Martin Sexton Announces New EP '2020 Vision'
by TV News Desk - June 08, 2021
The ability to hone in on defining moments has long been evident in Martin's songwriting. Produced by three-time Grammy-nominee John Alagia (John Mayer, Paul Simon, Lukas Nelson), 2020 Vision is a poetically emotive and an elegantly evocative pandemic scrapbook....
The Accidentals Release 'Sneak Peek' First Song From Musikfest 2020 Performances
by A.A. Cristi - July 31, 2020
As Musikfest (July 31-Aug. 9) gets set to kick off tonight at 7 p.m. EST, Michigan-based indie-folk trio The Accidentals have shared the first song from the 90-plus performances scheduled for this year's festival. The band will 'perform' tonight, July 31, 8 p.m., as part of a lineup that also featur...
Lizzo Wins Entertainer of the Year at the NAACP Image Awards; Full List!
by Stephi Wild - February 23, 2020
Last night the NAACP Image Awards were held. Taking home the top prize of Entertainer of the Year was Lizzo....
Seth Glier Releases New Single 'Stages'
by Abigail Charpentier - January 10, 2020
Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Seth Glier hasreleased a new single. Entitled 'Stages', the new release draws upon traditional roots music while adding experimental instrumentation and pop sensibility, for a unique exploration of sound. Glier has been descried by NPR as having an 'otherworldly' v...
Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart Shares STONE COLD LONESOME
by Tori Hartshorn - June 28, 2019
Grammy Award-winning singermulti-instrumentalist Rebecca Haviland and her band Rebecca Haviland and Whiskey Heart just shared a triumphant new single, 'Stone Cold Lonesome.” Wide Open Country premiered the expansive track, out today ahead of the band's upcoming tour....
All Types of Kinds Add More Live Dates Ahead Of Shooting New Music Video
by Tori Hartshorn - May 16, 2019
Having kept very busy at the start of this year performing all over NY and PA, a residency at Rockwood Music Hall, and flying out to Montreal for the 2019 Folk Alliance International Conference - NYC's All Types of Kinds continues to hit the ground running as they've added more live dates ahead of s...
|