Moon Martin - Live at Rockpalast Markthalle, Hamburg, Germany 21st January, 1981 (2015)

Oklahoma-born John Moon Martin is an American singer-songwriter whose songs were picked up and turned into hits by others. He was an underrated performer and perennially popular in Europe,having first toured there in late 1979. In the USA he opened for Cheap Trick, Rockpile and Joe Jackson.

The name Moon was added to distinguish him from Brit songsmith John Martyn, and it also recognises his frequent use of lunar-related imagery in lyrics. He was described by author Johnny Rogan as a cross between Buddy Holly, Warren Zevon and John Denver .His late 60s session career as a guitarist-for-hire saw him backing Del Shannon, Jackie DeShannon, Gram Parsons and Linda Ronstadt. He wrote much of Mama Michelle Phillips debut solo album, Victim Of Romance (1977). His 70s band Southwind shared stages with the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers. He also found fame in the New Wave era, when he was backed by musicians from Blondie and was produced by Jack Nitzsche (whom he shared with Mink DeVille - hence the latter artist's covers of Rolene and Cadillac Walk ).