Marty Grebb

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Marty Grebb

| image = Marty Grebb (cropped).JPG

| caption =

| birth_name = Martin Joseph Grebb

| alias =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1945|09|02}}{{Cite web|url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/marty-grebb-dies/|title=Eric Clapton and Band Collaborator Marty Grebb Dead at 74|website=Ultimate Classic Rock|date=January 2, 2020 |access-date=January 5, 2020|archive-date=January 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200105154336/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/marty-grebb-dies/|url-status=live}}

| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2020|1|1|1945|9|2}}

| death_place =

| instrument = {{flatlist|

Guitar
keyboards
saxophone
organ
piano
percussion
horn

}}

| genre = Rock

| occupation =

| years_active = 1965–2019

| label =

| associated_acts = The Band, The Rick Danko Band, The Weight, The Exceptions, Chicago, Peter Cetera, The Buckinghams, Bonnie Raitt

| website =

}}

Martin Joseph Grebb{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/631577-Marty-Grebb |title=Marty Grebb Discography at Discogs |website=Discogs.com |date= |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=November 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111200528/http://www.discogs.com/artist/631577-Marty-Grebb |url-status=live }} (September 2, 1945 – January 1, 2020) was an American keyboardist, guitarist, and saxophonist. A member of The Buckinghams in the late 1960s, Grebb was also a record producer and an arranger, who worked with musicians including Peter Cetera, Bill Payne, Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Etta James, and Leon Russell.{{cite web |author= |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marty-grebb-mn0000313510 |title=Marty Grebb | Music Biography, Credits and Discography |website=AllMusic |date= |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808112043/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/marty-grebb-mn0000313510 |url-status=live }}

Early life

Marty Grebb was born and raised in Chicago. He began studying music after his eighth birthday. His early interest in music can be attributed to his father, Harry, who was a saxophonist and played in the big-band era, both on the road and in the clubs of Chicago. However, Marty chose piano as his first instrument, turning to saxophone only two years later.{{cite web |url=http://www.hammondb3.com/martygrebb_biography.html |title=Marty Grebb Biography |website=Hammondb3.com |date=September 2, 1945 |access-date=August 13, 2014 |archive-date=January 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121063545/http://www.hammondb3.com/martygrebb_biography.html |url-status=live }}

Career

File:The Buckinghams 1968.JPG in 1968. Left to right: Dennis Tufano, Marty Grebb, John Poulos, Carl Giammarese and Nick Fortuna.]]

In 1966, a local band, The Buckinghams, required the services of a keyboardist, and Marty Grebb was asked to team up with them. Around this time, the band members were introduced to James William Guercio, a former bassist and road manager for Chad & Jeremy who found them a management contract with Ebbins-Guercio Associates. The band went on to have three (Billboard) and five (Cashbox) top-ten national selling singles and three top twenty albums with Marty Grebb for Columbia Records.

After the Buckinghams, Grebb toured with a number of artists,{{cite news |last1=Balancia |first1=Donna |title=Remarkable Music and Life of Marty Grebb 'Guided From Above' |url=https://californiarocker.com/2015/05/22/remarkable-music-life-of-marty-grebb-guided-from-above/ |access-date=January 6, 2020 |work=California Rocker |date=May 22, 2015 |archive-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809054036/https://californiarocker.com/2015/05/22/remarkable-music-life-of-marty-grebb-guided-from-above/ |url-status=live }} including Leon Russell, Elton John, Muddy Waters, and most notably Bonnie Raitt{{Cite web|url=http://www.hammondb3.com/martygrebb_biography.html|title=Marty Grebb Biography|website=Hammondb3.com|access-date=February 15, 2014|archive-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121063545/http://www.hammondb3.com/martygrebb_biography.html|url-status=live}} as a member of her band for 25 years. He was also a touring member of Chicago in 1980 and 1981.{{cite news |last=Koshatka |first=Edgar |title=Chicago's welcome comeback |newspaper=The Philadelphia Inquirer |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |date=September 21, 1980 |page=8-I |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13993607/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |via=Newspapers.com |access-date=September 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170925225943/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13993607/the_philadelphia_inquirer/ |archive-date=September 25, 2017 |url-status=live }} {{free access}}

Later, Grebb was a member of The Weight Band, featuring former members and collaborators of The Band. Grebb contributed to The Band's Jericho and Jubilation albums. In July 2017, PBS's Infinity Hall Live program aired a televised performance by The Weight Band, featuring new music by the band.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/video/the-weight-band-6mnluj/|title=The Weight Band | Season 6 Episode 2 | Infinity Hall Live|website=Pbs.org|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-date=August 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817210412/http://www.pbs.org/video/the-weight-band-6mnluj/|url-status=dead}}

Grebb died on January 1, 2020.[https://wabx.net/news/articles/2020/jan/03/marty-grebb-ex-buckinghams-member-and-journeyman-session-musician-dead-at-73/971351/ "Marty Grebb, ex-Buckinghams member and journeyman session musician, dead at 73", WABX.net, January 3, 2020] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200104034308/https://wabx.net/news/articles/2020/jan/03/marty-grebb-ex-buckinghams-member-and-journeyman-session-musician-dead-at-73/971351/ |date=January 4, 2020 }}. Retrieved January 5, 2020