Jerry Martini

Martini was born in Denver, Colorado. He was introduced to music at an early age. By 12 years old, he had learned to play the ukelele, accordion, and clarinet. It was at 13 he learned the saxophone, his instrument of choice. Only two years later, he began gigging at local bars.[2]

While gigging, Martini attended San Francisco City College for three years attending music classes.[2] Meanwhile, he played in a local band called Joe Piazza and the Continentals. It was here he befriended and first played alongside Sly Stone.[3] The group frequently provided music for the popular television show KPIX Dance Party hosted by Dick Stewart.[4] Martini's reputation grew anymore when the Continentals backed the popular group The Viscaynes on the recording of their hit single "Yellow Moon".[5][6] The Continentals were also believed to be the backing group for an early Janet Ericco recording, "It Was A Lie" bw "Come Along With Me" under the pseudonym The Twilights.[7]

After leaving the Continentals, Martini joined a popular interracial cover group called George and Teddy and the Condors, where he built his reputation even more. Sly Stone even used Martini to play on Bobby Freeman's 1964 single, "C'mon and Swim".[3] After scoring a deal with Warner Brothers, George and Teddy and the Condors were sent to Italy in 1965 to build their fanbase. The tour bombed, and Martini realized that the band was going nowhere. While Stone held a disc jockey gig at KSOL, Martini stopped by once a week to visit.[3] He approached him with an idea of forming a band, which Stone eventually took him up on.[2]

It was at Martini's suggestion that Sly and the Family Stone came about, and he became one of its key figures.[2] He performed with the band from its inception in 1967 to its demise in 1975. In 1975, he appeared on Sly Stone's first solo album, High on You.

In 1977, he also performed on Larry Graham's Graham Central Station fifth album, Now Do U Wanta Dance. He was also in the band Rubicon during the late 1970s.[8]

In 2004–2005, he helped form the tribute band FamilyStoneExperience bringing together several Family Stone alumni, including Greg Errico, Cynthia Robinson, Dawn Silva and Gail Muldrow amongst others.[9]

In February 2017, Martini was performing with band Family Stone at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.[10]

In August 2019 Martini toured with Family Stone - </ref>