Martin Jonathan | Biography

SHORT AUTOBIOGRAPHY
By Martin Jonathan

Stemming back to great-grandparents (that I know of!), the guitar has been the instrument of choice for several musicians in my family. Since I can remember my, dad was a very strong musical presence to have around, and indeed, got me started in the first place at the age of 4! Cousins Pete and Brian Hornsey, undoubtedly a major influence on the way I play, even now. From my granddad Jack singing, to my granddad Len playing the spoons, I’ve inherited a deep love for music from both sides of my family, that I’m very proud of.

I first started giggin’ when I was about 14. I was half of a rock n’ roll duo. The other half being my dad, Andy. Armed with a drum machine and two strats, we invaded the pubs in and around Dover! At 15, I’d begun playing alone with an acoustic guitar in the Park-Inn in Dover, and the Lord Nelson in Deal. Still at school, I became very focused on the fact that music is what I’ll always do.

At 18 (fresh out of the sixth form!), through a friend of my family’s, Kieron Buffrey, I landed a job on the ferries in New Haven and Dover playing guitar and singing before cabaret shows. I seemed to work on a lot of ships after this, Cruises from the Norwegian Fjords to the coast of Italy, P&O, Stena and North Sea Ferries. It was from Hull to Rotterdam that I met a lot of cool people, and learnt how to do long gigs. 

I haven't worked on ships for a while now. The last few years I've been gigging between Portugal, Austria and England. A couple of weekends in France, and Holland, and more recently, a short spell in the Channel Islands. I'm always on the look out for new gigs.