Martin Taylor

Martin Taylor
Martin Taylor

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MARTIN TAYLOR has won the British Award for BEST GUITARIST at the British Jazz Awards 2007 for a record 11th year

The virtuoso guitarist first came to prominence in the late 1970's through his collaborations with the legendary violinist Stephane Grappelli, and now tours the world's concert halls with his dazzling live performances.

His first solo album made in 1993 was No.1 in the HMV charts for six weeks, establishing him as one of the most popular and biggest selling acoustic guitarists in the UK.

The following year he formed his group SPIRIT OF DJANGO whose version of Robert Palmer's JOHNNY AND MARY was used on the famous cult TV ads with "Nicole-Papa" for the Renault Clio.

In 1999 he signed a recording contract with SONY MUSIC, making two critically acclaimed albums, KISS AND TELL and NITELIFE, which showed the many sides of Martin Taylor both as a guitarist and composer.

He has also collaborated with musicians form many different musical genre including, CHET ATKINS, GEORGE HARRISON, ERIC CLAPTON, CHRIS REA, BILL WYMAN, DIONNE WARWICK, LIZA MINNELLI, SACHA DISTEL AND BRYN TERFEL.

Martin is a popular artist in Japan and alongside classical saxophonist NOBOYA SUGAWA, recorded the music for NKT's most popular TV drama series SAKURA, which has a daily audience of 26 million.

In 1998 he founded the Kirkmichael International Guitar Festival in his home village in Scotland, which has now become one of the biggest and most prestigious guitar festivals in the world. He also founded Guitars For Schools, which promotes the teaching of guitars in primary schools. Through his work he has raised money to pay for guitars and tuition for hundreds of school children throughout South West Scotland.

Over the years he has received many awards and honours including The Freedom of the City of London, the Gold Badge of Merit from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters, and was made an Honorary Doctor of the University of Paisley, Scotland.

In 2002, Martin was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) "For Services To Music", in The Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours List, and received his award personally from Her Majesty The Queen at an investiture at Buckingham Palace.