Marty Sammon Explained

Marty Sammon
Alias:Slammin Sammon, Chicago's 190 proof keyboardist
Birth Name:Martin J. Sammon
Birth Date:14 October 1977
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Death Place:New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Instruments:Piano, vocals, guitar
Genre:Chicago blues, electric blues, ragtime, New Orleans jazz
Occupations:Musician, songwriter, author
Years Active:1993–2022
Label:Independent

Martin J. Sammon (October 14, 1977 – October 15, 2022) was an American blues keyboardist. He was recognized for his energetic performances, improvisation and mastery of traditional styles (ragtime and blues), having established himself as an ambassador of Chicago blues with appearances on several commercially distributed DVDs, television shows (US and in Europe) and Grammy Award-winning albums. His book Blues Keyboard Method, with a foreword by Chuck Leavell, of the Rolling Stones, was published by Hal Leonard in 2015.[1]

Life and career

Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, in a family with Irish heritage, Sammon began learning to play the piano as a young child. He learned traditional Irish folk songs by ear while listening to records with his father, Martin Sammon Sr., a Chicago police officer. His parents realized that their son was a prodigy son with an ear for music and encouraged him to take piano lessons. He enjoyed the experience but also developed his musical ear by listening to many styles of music.[2] He competed in contests, including the World Championship Old-Time Piano Players[3] (winning championships in 1994 and 1995).[3]

At the age of 15, he began playing on the Chicago blues scene with the South Side guitarist L.V. Banks.[4] He was under age and was driven to venues by his father.Sammon began receiving calls to play with many Chicago artists, including Phil Guy.[2] He performed and toured with Guy and other blues musicians for years, while also performing headlining gigs, including a tour in Latvia.[5] [6] The turning point of his career came when he played with Guy at the original Checkerboard Lounge during the weekend of the Chicago Blues Festival.

After five years with Otis Rush, in which he played on Rush's 2003 DVD, Live Part One, and on (which won Grammy Awards for Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes) - Godfathers and Sons,[7] Sammon was contacted by Phil Guy: "It was late night and I was home when the phone rang. I didn't know the number so I ignored it. My brother Mike convinced me to answer saying that 'that could be THE call!' It was Phil Guy saying that I had the Buddy gig and, by the way, Y'all leave Thursday. I'll be forever grateful to Phil and to my bro for that!"[2]

Sammon performed worldwide with Buddy Guy and as an opening act with his own ensemble, the Marty Sammon Band. He contributed to Guy's sixth Grammy Award–winning album, Living Proof.[8] He also recorded releases under his own name and performed at schools and universities to promote the blues and music career development education.[9] [10]

In September 2015, Sammon made an uncredited appearance on the television program Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern, in the episode "Delicious Destinations—Milwaukee".

On October 14, 2015, Sammon performed with Buddy Guy and Tom Hambridge at the White House for "A Celebration of American Creativity: In Performance at the White House", commemorating the 50th anniversary of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Sammon's influences included Peter Sliwka, Dr. John, Scott Joplin, Professor Longhair, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, Otis Spann, Pinetop Perkins, Ray Charles, Eubie Blake, Fats Waller, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, and Bruce Hornsby.

Sammon died on October 15, 2022, at the age of 45.[11]

Discography

Album Artist Media Notes
Live at Legends CD 2012 RCA[12]
Say What You Mean CD 2000 JSP Records[13]
Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Godfathers and Sons Various artists CD
Getting There CD 2013 Superstar Records[15]
Buddy Guy North Seas Jazz Festival DVD [16]
Buddy Guy Live in Lugano Switzerland DVD
Ragged & Dirty CD 2014 RUF Records[17]
Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Various artists DVD 2008 Rhino Entertainment
Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Various artists DVD 2010
Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Various artists DVD 2013
Carlos Santana Santana Presents the Blues DVD 2004 Eagle Rock Entertainment[18]
Otis Rush Blues Express Otis RushCD and DVD 1999 Blues Express[19]
Tear This World Up Eddie C. CampbellCD Delmark Artist Performances[20]
Living Proof Buddy GuyCD and Album
Experience Hendrix Tour Various artistsDVD2008 Image Entertainment[21]
Robert Randolph Presents the Slide Brothers Various artists CD 2012 Dare Records[22]
Jump Start Lil' Ed Williams and the Blues ImperialsCD 2012 Alligator Records[23]
Do Your Thing! CD 2000 Delmark Records[24]
Stoned Soul Giles CoreyCD2014 Delmark Records[25]
What We Are Rick SimcoxCD2012 RSTQ Records[26]
Rob Blaine's Big Otis Blues Rob BlaineCD2012 Swississippi Records[27]
Four Aces and a Harp Swississippi Chris HarperCD2010 Swississippi Records[28]
Marty Sammon Band Live Marty SammonCD2002[29]
Marty Sammon Honky Tonk Piano Party Marty SammonCD
Marty Sammon Songs Before My Time Marty SammonCD
Marty Sammon Hound Dog Barkin Marty SammonCD2010 (Originals Re-Release)[30]
Marty Sammon Live at Orazio's Marty SammonCD
Marty Sammon Right At Home Marty SammonCD
190 Proof Blues Marty Sammon and Tom HollandCD 2008[31] Live performance filmed and aired on WDCB 90.9 FM, with Scott "Hambone" Hammer[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hal Leonard Corporation. Hal Leonard Corporation. Halleonard.com. 2016-07-25.
  2. Web site: Chicago Piano Lessons – Blues, Jazz, Rock, Classical, R&B, & more. – Blog . Stevenixonmusic.net . 2010-05-20 . 2012-03-21.
  3. Web site: World Championship Old-Time Piano Playing Contest . July 5, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090718001931/http://oldtimepiano.tripod.com/index.htm . July 18, 2009.
  4. Web site: Mr. G's Thoughts for Free. G-freethoughts.blogspot.com. 19 January 2015.
  5. Web site: Latvian Blues Band. Latvianbluesband.com. 19 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119183429/http://www.latvianbluesband.com/lat/revues/?id=MartySammon. 19 January 2015.
  6. Web site: Latvietis GILES COREY . July 6, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120323154832/http://www.apollo.lv/portal/printit/4441 . March 23, 2012.
  7. Web site: The Blues. The Songs & the Artists. Discography. Godfathers and Sons – PBS. Pbs.org. 19 January 2015.
  8. Web site: Living Proof – Buddy Guy . AllMusic . 2010-10-25 . 2012-03-21.
  9. Web site: Daily Herald – Electronic Archive. Nl.newsbank.com. 19 January 2015.
  10. Web site: Blues Artists Perform at UWMC. John DesRivieres. Wsaw.com. 19 January 2015.
  11. News: Edwards . Eve . RIP Marty Sammon: Death of pianist at 45 rocks Chicago blues community . 17 October 2022 . The Focus . 16 October 2022.
  12. Web site: Live at Legends by Buddy Guy @ALLmusic. Allmusic. 15 June 2015.
  13. Web site: Say What You Mean by Phil Guy @ARTISTdirect. ARTISTdirect. 19 January 2015.
  14. Web site: Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: Godfathers and Sons – Original Soundtrack – Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic. 19 January 2015.
  15. Web site: Getting There – Quinn Sullivan – Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic. 19 January 2015.
  16. Web site: Festival de Jazz de Montreaux 2004 / Jean-Marc Chevillard, Vincent Guelat, Romain Guelat [motion picture]

    Bibliographic Record Description: Performing Arts Encyclopedia, Library of Congress]

    . Lcweb2.loc.gov. 19 January 2015.
  17. Web site: Ragged and Dirty by Devon Allman @AllMusic. Allmusic. 15 June 2015.
  18. Web site: Plays Blues at Montreux 2004 by Carlos Santana @ARTISTdirect. ARTISTdirect. 19 January 2015.
  19. Web site: Eddie C. Campbell - Tear This World Up - Delmark Records 2009. July 6, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120326160621/http://www.fulltimeblues.com/review_072209.html . March 26, 2012.
  20. Web site: Delmark Artist Performances . Delmark.com . 2012-03-21.
  21. Web site: Experience Hendrix Tour – 2008 – Concert Photos from October 18, 2008 (Boston, MA) Performance. Experiencehendrixtour.com. 19 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150119183649/http://www.experiencehendrixtour.com/2008-nationwide-gallery-4.php. 19 January 2015.
  22. Web site: Robert Randolph Presents: The Slide Brothers – The Slide Brothers – Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic. 19 January 2015.
  23. Web site: Alligator Records – Genuine Houserockin' Music Since 1971. Alligator.com. 19 January 2015.
  24. Web site: Do Your Thing! – Michael Coleman – Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic. 19 January 2015.
  25. Web site: Giles Corey's Stoned Soul. 19 January 2015.
  26. Web site: Rick Simcox What We Are. Emphasisentertainment.com. 19 January 2015.
  27. Web site: Rob Blaine's Big Otis Blues – Rob Blaine – Release Credits – AllMusic. AllMusic. 19 January 2015.
  28. Web site: Blues Blast Magazine – www.TheBluesBlast.com – Blues CD Review.. Thebluesblast.com. 19 January 2015.
  29. Web site: Marty Sammon Band: Live CD Track Listing. D. Cylist.com. 19 January 2015.
  30. Web site: Marty Sammon – Hound Dog Barkin'. 19 January 2015.
  31. Web site: Doppler Productions - TuneCore. Tunecore.com. 19 January 2015.
  32. Web site: 90.9fm WDCB - Error. Wdcb.org. 19 January 2015.