Martin Quittenton

{{short description|British guitarist and composer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

Martin Quittenton (22 April 1945 – 16 April 2015){{cite web |title=Martin Quittenton |url=https://musicbrainz.org/artist/c18db3fb-5442-419c-8c4d-bc8ceef28527/relationships |website=MusicBrainz |publisher=MetaBrainz Foundation |accessdate=12 October 2018}} was a British guitarist and composer.{{cite web| url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Martin+Quittenton | title=Martin Quittenton | website=www.discogs.com |publisher=Discogs | accessdate=28 February 2018}}{{cite web| url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/martin-quittenton-mn0000369690 | title=Martin Quittenton |website=www.allmusic.com | publisher=Allmusic | accessdate=20 April 2013}} He played in the blues rock band Steamhammer, formed in 1968. Their debut album Steamhammer was released in 1969.

Quittenton also worked with Rod Stewart, along with Pete Sears, Micky Waller, and fellow Steamhammer guitarist Martin Pugh.{{cite web| url=http://www.the-faces.com/rod/roddisc2.htm | title=The Rod Stewart Album | website=www.the-faces.com | publisher=The Faces | accessdate=20 April 2013}} In collaboration with Stewart, Quittenton co-wrote the international hit singles "Maggie May"{{cite news| last=Myers | first=Marc | date=23 October 2015 | title=Maggie May – A Song of Loss | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | page=D6 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rod-stewart-on-the-making-of-maggie-may-1445353272 }} and "You Wear It Well", along with the British top ten single "Farewell", from Stewart's 1974 album Smiler. Stewart invited Quittenton to join his group The Faces, but Quittenton was not attracted by the wild off-stage antics for which the Faces were notorious.{{cite news |last1=Boshoff |first1=Alison |title=The curse of Maggie May |url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/the-curse-of-maggie-may-1181598 |accessdate=12 October 2018 |work=IOL |publisher=Independent Media |date=18 November 2011}}

In 1973, Quittenton formed an instrumental band with Pete Sears, Manfred Mann drummer John Lingwood and keyboardist Max Middleton. The band never got beyond the rehearsal stage.{{cite web|title=1970. Gasoline Alley|url=http://www.petesears.com/1970-gasoline-alley-first-of-four-early-solo-rod-stewart-albums-pete-sears-would-play-on-mostly-on-piano-but-a-little-bass-as-well/|website=petesears.com|date=12 September 2015|access-date=7 November 2016}}

Suffering from mental health problems, Quittenton left the music business and moved to Llanrhyddlad, on the isle of Anglesey, Wales.