Martin Carthy

Biography

English folk singer and guitarist Martin Carthy, born in Hatfield in 1941, is a central figure of the British folk revival. His percussive guitar style and commanding singing of traditional songs, heard from his 1965 debut 'Martin Carthy' onwards, influenced *Bob Dylan* and *Paul Simon*. Alongside a distinguished solo career and his partnership with *Dave Swarbrick*, he has sung with *The Watersons*, played in *Steeleye Span* and *Brass Monkey*, and performed with his family in *Waterson:Carthy*. He was awarded an MBE in 1998 and was named Folk Singer of the Year at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002 and 2005.