Martin Harley was born in 1975 in
Cardiff, Wales. He later moved with his family to
Woking,
Surrey.
Musical career Band Harley was the founder of The Martin Harley Band, a British blues trio which toured in the
United Kingdom and abroad. The band was noted for its use of obscure instrumentation, including a
Weissenborn acoustic guitar,
balalaika, cocktail
drum kit,
cajon and
double bass. It also featured laptop slide guitar and three-part vocal harmonies. The band released five albums on
independent record labels and appeared on the
Aled Jones,
Bob Harris and
Johnnie Walker shows on
BBC Radio 2. They appeared on a charity
compilation album which was sold to raise money for Rural Revival and
CARE International.
Solo career Harley performs solo as Martin Harley. His musical genre is roots and blues. He established a solo career in the
United States after the release of his first album,
Mojo Fix, in 2012, for which he collaborated in Texas with former
Los Angeles studio bassist and producer Bob Parr. He launched
Mojo Fix in
Boulder, Colorado, gained airplay on non-commercial, adult alternative radio across the US, and performed concerts in the US and the UK.
Mojo Fix was the first time that Harley had worked with outside musicians and featured a rock-tinged approach, with more use made of the Weissenborn guitar. Guest musicians on the album included
Santana and
Steve Winwood veteran Walfredo Reyes on drums;
McKenzie Smith of Midlake; and
Charlie Bisharat, a violinist known for his work with
Shadowfax. Harley recorded a solo album in Australia at the beginning of his recording career. Harley has been interviewed by
Guitarist magazine, and featured in a three DVD set providing slide guitar tips and tricks. slide guitar
Travel In 2005, Harley participated in what the
Guinness World Records has recognised as the 'Highest Gig in the World', in which he played at an elevation of 21,000 feet on
Kala Patthar in the
Himalayas. In early 2007, he spent six weeks travelling through
Mali,
Guinea and
Senegal and playing with local musicians, including Malian singer/guitarist
Vieux Farka Toure. The visit was recorded by a French film crew. A CD and DVD were scheduled for release. In 2010, Harley undertook the "Blues Gone Green Tour", a 27-show, 1,200-mile acoustic tour of the UK by bicycle over thirty-one days. The tour was supported by the charities
Sustrans and Villages in Action, and the Rural Touring Circuit.
Collaborations Harley's slide guitar work can be heard on
Kate Walsh's ''Tim's House'',
Fink's
Biscuits for Breakfast, and Hardkandy's
Second to None. ==Discography==