Photo: Stephen Clarke
Have no fear Andy Martin fans, Andy may be rockin’ in his rocking chair but he hasn’t changed his style of music. His new CD Rocking Chair is named after his surprise local radio hit of the same title. The song is an old George Jones hit and Andy’s cover of the tune turned into heavy rotation on Rooster FM and Radio Cayman.
“I was surprised at the popularity of the old tune”, says Andy “it was a single copy recorded for the radio stations and unfortunately I had no CDs pressed.”
But let’s not despair, the song is now released along with 11 other Cayman Cowboy favourites. The new CD isn’t all new – along with recently recorded material it’s culled from Andy’s archives of local hits such as Cayman Country, first released on a 45 RPM back in 1976. Then there’s Arms of a Fool and of course his most famous tear-jerker Letter from Sea. Newer cuts are Empty Heart, Wings of a Dove and his just released Old Folks.
Andy Martin is one of Caymans music’s legendary figures – after nearly 100 recordings and “too many to count “ stage appearances, Andy’s still Andy and his unique vocal abilities haven’t yet abandoned him. When he gently caresses Am I That Easy to Forget, growls through I Don’t Need Your Rocking Chair and sympathetically renders Ferlin Husky’s Wing of a Dove, Andy’s pained voice still has the power to move.
Swaying in his rocking chair, Andy is a happy man who can proudly muse over years of success with more than 50,000 records, 8-tracks, cassettes and CDs sold. Recently he received a special Queens Honour for his contribution to the local music scene which is displayed in his living room along with other trophies, plaques and spray painted gold records.
His new CD is now available at several local outlets or directly from Andy. He can be reached at either 947-2476, 927-6847 or 947-2197.
Local music – no matter what genre makes a great Christmas gift for friends or family abroad. CDs are lightweight and cheap to post, but mail them early, otherwise the addressees may be in their rocking chair before they receive it. WH