Born in Gillingham, Kent, raised on peanut butter and The Beatles, Martin played harmonica on the gravestones of St Mary's Church until a plastic guitar changed his life at the age of 8. "I fell in love with the acoustic guitar listening to Roy Harper, Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen and all that happy stuff!

In 1986 he was signed by Chris Blackwell to Island Records and his album The Englishman Abroad, produced by Rupert Hine, with guests Howard Jones, Phil Palmer (Dire Straits) and Trevor Morais (drummer with ‘60’s legends The Peddlers and later in the ‘90’s Underworld) was first released. One of Martin's songs from the album - Shine - was subsequently included in the film soundtrack of Better off Dead (starring John Cusack) and another - The Eighth Wonder - was a huge international hit when covered by Miguel Bose.

Since then Martin's songs have been covered by Sally Barker and The Poozies and he has toured Europe with Van Morrison, Chris Isaak, The Fixx, Captain Sensible and Tom Robinson, to name a few.

His partnership with Debbie Cassell in the duo Woman Wants Tall Man has led to two CDs, 'Woman Wants Tall Man' and 'Best With The Head Off'.

Martin's latest solo CD June Said is dedicated to his mum who died on September 30th 2006 from a brain tumour. Far from morose, it contains uplifting songs like 'Chain Smoking Insects' which stabs at GM crops and 'The Settler', a song about a young woman who paints naked men.

MARTIN ANSELL: June Said