Tab Martin
{{short description|British bassist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| image = Tab Martin (cropped).png
| alt =
| caption = Martin in 1968
| birth_name = Alan Raymond Brearley
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1944|12|24}}
| birth_place = Newcastle upon Tyne, England
| origin =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Bassist
| years_active =
| associated_acts = The Tornados, The Saints, The Peddlers
| website =
}}
Tab Martin (born Alan Raymond Brearley; 24 December 1944) is an English bass guitarist. He has been a member of well-known English bands from the 1960s. He was a member of the Tornados and played on their hit "Globetrotter". He was also a member of the Peddlers and played on their hits "Birth" and "Girlie". He also founded 1960s group the Saints.
Background
Martin was born in Newcastle on 24 December 1944.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepeddlers.co.uk/default.asp?ContentID=500|title=The Peddlers | Roy, Tab & Trevor|website=Thepeddlers.co.uk|access-date=2 October 2024}} Martin was known for his technique of playing his bass in an upright fashion.Dangerous Minds, 05.07.2012 - [https://dangerousminds.net/comments/meet_the_peddlers_manchesters_legendary_jazz_rock_group Meet The Peddlers: Manchester’s legendary jazz/rock group]Thepeddlers.co.uk - [http://www.thepeddlers.co.uk/default.asp?ContentID=500 Roy, Tab & Trevor]Beat Instrumental, February, 1968 - [http://www.thepeddlers.co.uk/content/Tab.jpg Peddlars Tab Martin Started as a C&W Musician By Mike Clifford]
In 1967, Martin was no. 9 in the Bass Guitarist section of the Beat Instrumental Gold Star Awards.Beat Instrumental, Feb. 1968 - [https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Beat-Instrumental/6802-Beat-Instrumental-1968-02-OCR.pdf Page 20 BEAT INSTRUMENTAL'S 1967 GOLD STAR AWARDS, DRUMMER]
Career
Martin became a member of the Tornados when he replaced Chris Hodges. He left the group a month after they released the single "Globetrotter" and was replaced by former Pirates member Brian Gregg. He went on to form his own band, the Saints.Every Chart Topper Tells a Story: The Sixties, By Sharon Davis - [https://books.google.com/books?id=IDvneZmPuVIC&dq=%22Tab+Martin%22Joe+Meek%22&pg=RA1-PA1961 October/November 1962, THE TORNADOS, Telstar] In April 1964, along with Roy Phillips and Trevor Morais, Martin formed the Peddlers.Nostalgia Central - [https://nostalgiacentral.com/music/artists-l-to-z/artists-p/peddlers-the/ Music - 1960s Peddlers, The] The Peddlers had a minor hit with "Let the Sunshine", followed by a top twenty hit with "Birth" and followed by another hit, "Girlie".Making Time - [http://www.makingtime.co.uk/peddlers.html The Peddlers] The group's album Birthday which was released on Epic also charted.Billboard, March 14, 1970 - [https://books.google.com/books?id=NSgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Tab+Martin%22Billboard%22Peddlers&pg=PA47 Page 47 Album Reviews Continued, SPECIAL MERIT PICKS, POP] Martin continued with the Peddlers, with New Zealand drummer Paul Johnston replacing Morais in 1972. He stayed with the group until their breakup in the mid-1970s. After that, he became a session musician.
Martin produced a single for the Otis Waygood Band. The single "Get It Started" b/w "Red Hot Passion" was released on Decca in 1977.The South African Rock Encyclopedia - [http://www.rock.co.za/files/otis_waygood_band.html Otis Waygood Band] He also produced "Making Up Again" which was a hit single for UK group Goldie.The Omnibus Book of British and American Hit Singles, 1960-1990, Dave McAleer - [https://books.google.com/books?id=YE5LAAAAYAAJ&q=Goldie%22Tab+Martin%22 p. 75, GOLDIE]Collins Complete UK Hit Singles 1952-2004, Graham Betts - [https://books.google.com/books?id=Ewk5AQAAIAAJ&q=Goldie%22Tab+Martin%22 p. 369, GOLDIE] In 1978, he and Dominic De Sousa were working for MAM Records.Record World, August 26, 1978 - [https://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Record-World/70s/78/Record-World-1978-08-26.pdf Page 68 ENGLAND By PHILIP PALMER, CHART COMEBACK BID:] They worked together, producing the "Disco Hell" single for Dafne and the Tenderspots which was released the following year.45Cat - [http://www.45cat.com/artist/dafne-and-the-tenderspots/uk Dafne And The Tenderspots - Discography, UK] In an interview with Radio New Zealand in May 2020, Roy Phillips said Martin was living in Lisbon and battling Alzheimer's disease.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/sunday/audio/2018747745/roy-phillips-still-going-strong-50-years-after-girlie|title=Roy Phillips still going strong 50 years after 'Girlie'|date=24 May 2020|website=Rnz.co.nz|access-date=26 January 2025}}
Further reading
- Thunderbolt, Issue 55 – Mark Newson covered Tab Martin's career in the TornadosThe Joe Meek Society - [http://www.joemeeksociety.org/?page_id=202 Thunderbolt Magazine]
References
{{Reflist}}
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Category:Rory Storm and the Hurricanes members
Category:English bass guitarists