Martin Page

Martin George Page (born 23 September 1959) is an English singer-songwriter and bassist.[1] Page has collaborated with artists such as Paul Young, Starship, Robbie Robertson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Heart, Robbie Williams and Go West[2][3][4]

Martin Page
Birth nameMartin George Page
Also known asMartin Page
Born (1959-09-23) 23 September 1959
Southampton, England
GenresNew wave, pop, pop rock, soft rock, adult contemporary
Occupation(s)Musician, producer
InstrumentsVocals, bass guitar
Years active1981–present
LabelsMercury Records, Ironing Board Records
Associated actsTight Fit, Q-Feel, Bernie Taupin, Earth, Wind & Fire, Maurice White, Starship, Heart, Go West
Websitemartinpage.com

Early life

Page was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, to Alan Richard Page (an aviation engineer) and Ruth Pamela Page. During a good portion of his childhood, Martin moved with his family from military base to military base as a result of his father's career. During those times, he stated that he spent much of his time listening to Peter Gabriel, the Beatles and Motown.[2][3][1]

Page apprenticed at Southampton FC, a professional association football team. Page spent some of his time listening to live music and learning how to play his main instrument, the bass guitar. Page's love of music propelled him to leave sports and become a professional bass player.[2][3][1]

Career

Page formed the pop group Q-Feel with his friend Brian Fairweather. Q-Feel experienced success with hit single "Dancing in Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)". Soon after, Page and Fairweather moved to Los Angeles, where they met music executive Diane Poncher. She saw potential in Page and Fairweather and eventually became their manager.[2][3]

At first Page and Fairweather collaborated with artists such as Kim Carnes, on her 1983 album Cafe Racers, Earth, Wind & Fire on their 1983 LP Electric Universe, and Barbra Streisand on her 1984 album Emotion. Page also played keyboards for Ray Parker Jr., on the 1984 Ghostbusters theme song, then composed on The Commodores 1985 LP Nightshift and Mr. Mister' 1985 album Welcome to the Real World. Page went on to work with Elton John's frequent lyricist Bernie Taupin. The duo performed on Maurice White's 1985 self titled album and wrote songs upon Starship's 1985 LP "Knee Deep in the Hoopla" together with Heart's 1985 album "Heart". Page later composed on Neil Diamond 1986 LP Headed for the Future, Lee Ritenour 1986 album Earth Run and Chaka Khan's 1986 LP Destiny.[2][3][4]

He again collaborated with Taupin on his 1987 album Tribe and composed on Atlantic Starr's 1987 LP All in the Name of Love. Page also composed on Starship's 1987 LP No Protection and produced Robbie Robertson on his 1987 self titled album. That album has been certified Gold in the UK by the BPI.[5]

Page went on to compose on Earth, Wind & Fire's 1988 LP The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire, Vol. 2. Page also produced Tom Jones on his 1988 LP Move Closer and Paul Young on his 1990 album Other Voices. Other Voices has been certified Gold in the UK by the BPI. He then produced Robbie Robertson on his Grammy nominated 1991 LP Storyville. He later co-wrote Go West's hit singles "King of Wishful Thinking" and "Faithful". Page has also collaborated with the likes of Robbie Williams and Josh Groban.[2][3][4][6][7]

Solo Work

During 1994, Page issued his debut solo album In the House of Stone and Light. The title track, which he wrote reflecting on a visit to the Grand Canyon, was issued the same year. As a single "In the House of Stone and Light" reached No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2][3][4]

Soon afterwards, his parents and some dear friends died. He returned to the studio in 2008 to record his second album, In the Temple of the Muse for IroningBoard Records, an independent label started by Page and Poncher.[8] Among the songs on In the Temple of the Muse are Page's recording of "Mi Morena" and "Blessed," (a song that Page described as a "commitment song"). He stated that "Blessed" is not about any person specifically,[9] noting that when his mother was still alive and around his studio when he was writing the song, she would plead with him not to play it because it would make her cry.

Page's third album, A Temper of Peace, was released in 2012 followed in 2015 by Hotel of the Two Worlds. In 2017, he issued his fifth album, The Slender Sadness (The Love Songs).[2][3][4] In October 2018, he released his sixth LP, composed of instrumental ambient music called The Amber of Memory.

In late 2019 Page started a music podcast called Radio OwlsNest. He has showcased new songs from this platform, and has announced that later in 2020 that he will release his seventh studio album, tentatively titled The Poetry of Collisions. It will be Page's first double album. It was released digitally on 10 November 2020.

Personal life

Page lives in Southern California.[1]

Discography

Albums

Year Album Chart Position Record Label
1994 In the House of Stone and Light Billboard 200 161[10] Island Def Jam
2008 In the Temple of the Muse - IroningBoard Records
2012 A Temper of Peace - IroningBoard Records
2015 Hotel of the Two Worlds - IroningBoard Records
2017 The Slender Sadness (The Love Songs) - IroningBoard Records
2018 The Amber of Memory - IroningBoard Records
2020 The Poetry of Collisions - IroningBoard Records

Singles

Year Single Chart Position Album
1994 "In the House of Stone and Light" US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary 1 In the House of Stone and Light
US Billboard Hot 100 14
1995 US Billboard Top 40 Mainstream 9
"Keeper of the Flame" US Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary 19
US Billboard Hot 100 83
"Put on Your Red Dress" -

References

  1. "Martin Page (Interview)". podbay.fm.
  2. "Martin Page Discusses His Career As A Hit Pop Songwriter". songwriter universe.com.
  3. "Martin Page: Page Finds Writing With Top Artists A Must". americansongwriter.com.
  4. "Martin Page". allmusic.com. Allmusic.
  5. "Robbie Robertson: Robbie Robertson". bpi.co.uk. BPI.
  6. "Paul Young: Other Voices". bpi.co.uk. BPI.
  7. "Robbie Robertson". grammy.com. The Recording Academy.
  8. Page, Martin Blog entry at his MySpace page; accessed 1 May 2011
  9. Martin Page Interview – In the Temple of the Muse, accessed 19 June 2011
  10. "The Billboard 200". Billboard. 107: 86. 10 June 1995. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 29 October 2015.
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