Chris Martin
Chris Martin performing live
Background information
Birth name	Christopher Anthony John Martin
Born	2 March 1977 (1977-03-02) (age 31)
Origin	Exeter, Devon, England
Genre(s)	Rock
Occupation(s)	Vocalist, producer, musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals, guitar, piano, mandolin, clarinet
Label(s)	Parlophone, Capitol
Associated acts	Coldplay
Website	coldplay.com

Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is the lead singer, pianist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the popular rock band Coldplay. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays Exeter ( (IPA ˈeksɪtər is a city, district and County town of Devon, England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock music is a genre of Popular music often though not necessarily employing Electric guitar, Bass guitar, and Drums. In the Music industry, a record producer or music producer has many roles among them controlling the recording sessions coaching and guiding the musicians organizing A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles The piano is a Musical instrument played by means of a keyboard that produces sound by striking steel strings with Felt covered hammers A mandolin is a musical instrument in the Lute family (plucked or strummed The clarinet is a Musical instrument in the Woodwind family The name derives from adding the suffix -et meaning little to the Italian word In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music Parlophone is a Record label, founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company. Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as Coldplay TalkColdplay#Is_or_Are_dispute_again Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good Also 1977 (album by Ash. Year 1977 ( MCMLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays A pianist (/'piənɪst/ is a Musician who plays the Piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces play with an ensemble or Orchestra A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres A musical ensemble is a group of two or more Musicians who perform instrumental or vocal Music. Coldplay TalkColdplay#Is_or_Are_dispute_again He has a baritenor voice and is known for his frequent use of falsetto. The term falsetto (Italian diminutive of falso, false refers to the Vocal register occupying the frequency range just above the Modal voice register and He is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Gwyneth Kate Paltrow (born September 27 1972 is an Academy Award - Golden Globe - and double Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American

Early life

Martin is an honors graduate from London's University College. ^[1]

Solo work

As a solo artist, Martin has written songs for a variety of acts including Embrace ("Gravity") and Jamelia ("See It in a Boy's Eyes"). For the US punk band see Embrace (US band. Embrace are an English Rock band from Brighouse and Bradford " Gravity " is the lead single from Out of Nothing, the fourth album by British band Embrace. Jamelia Niela Davis (born on 11 January 1981) known simply as Jamelia, is a Mercury Music Prize nominated English R&B " See It in a Boy's Eyes " was the fourth single from British R&B singer Jamelia 's second album Thank You. Martin has also collaborated with Ron Sexsmith, Faultline, The Streets, and Ian McCulloch. Ronald Eldon Sexsmith (born 8 January 1964) is a Canadian Singer-songwriter from St Mike Skinner (born 27 November 1978) more commonly known by his stage name The Streets, is a Rapper from Birmingham, England Ian Stephen McCulloch (born 5 May 1959) is an English Singer best known for his work with Echo & the Bunnymen. He also sang a part of the vocals for the Band Aid 20 single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at the end of 2004. Band Aid was a British and Irish charity supergroup, founded in 1984 by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in order to raise money " Do They Know It's Christmas? " is a song written by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure in 1984 specifically to raise money for relief of 1984–1985 famine In 2005, Martin collaborated with Nelly Furtado on the track "All Good Things (Come to an End)", for her 2006 album, Loose. Nelly Kim Furtado (born December 2 1978 is a Canadian Singer-songwriter, record producer actor and instrumentalist, who also holds Portuguese " All Good Things (Come to an End " is a song written by singer Nelly Furtado, Timbaland, Danja and Chris Martin for Furtado's Loose is the third Album by Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado, released by Geffen Records June 20 2006 in North America (see The two were once rumoured to be a couple, after they both performed at Glastonbury in 2002. For the classical music and theatre festivals co-founded by Rutland Boughton between 1914 and 1926 see Glastonbury Festival (1914-1925 The Furtado joked about the situation, saying that "Yeah, he's my boyfriend — he just doesn't know it yet". ^[2]

Martin's fascination with hip hop was shown in the summer of 2006 when he collaborated with rapper Jay-Z for the rapper's comeback album Kingdom Come after the two met earlier in the year. Hip hop music, also referred to as rap music, is a Music genre typically consisting of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4 1969 better known as Jay-Z, is an American Rapper and former CEO of Def Jam Recordings and Roc-A-Fella Kingdom Come is the Grammy-nominated ninth studio album from American rap artist Jay-Z released on November 21, 2006. Martin put some chords together for a song known as "Beach Chair" and sent them to Jay-Z who enlisted the help of hip hop producer Dr. Dre to add the drum line to complete the track. " Beach Chair " is a song from rapper Jay-Z 's comeback album Kingdom Come. Andre Romelle Young (born February 18 1965 primarily known by his stage name Dr The song was performed on 27 September 2006 by the two during Jay-Z's European tour at Royal Albert Hall. Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known

In 2007, Martin appeared on a track titled "Part of the Plan" for Swizz Beatz' debut solo album One Man Band Man. Kasseem Mike Dean (born September 13 1978 better known by his stage name Swizz Beatz, is an American Record producer and Rapper. One Man Band Man is the solo debut album from record producer Swizz Beatz, released on August 21 2007 through Full Surface and Martin has also worked on a solo collaboration with Kanye West, with whom he shared an impromptu jam session during a 2006 concert at Abbey Road Studios. Kanye Omari West (ˈkɑnjɛj born June 8 1977 is a ten-time Grammy Award -winning American Rapper, Record producer and Singer. A jam session is a Musical act where Musicians gather and play (or "jam") without extensive preparation or predefined Arrangements Abbey Road Studios, established in November 1931 by EMI in London, England, is a Recording studio located at number 3 Abbey Road, ^[3] He performs the chorus on a song called "Homecoming" on Kanye West's newly released album, Graduation. Kanye Omari West (ˈkɑnjɛj born June 8 1977 is a ten-time Grammy Award -winning American Rapper, Record producer and Singer. Graduation is the third Studio album by Rapper Kanye West, released on September 11 2007 on Roc-A-Fella Records.

Influences

Martin performs live with Coldplay in Hong Kong, 2006.

One of the bands that Martin credits with the heaviest influence on him as a musician is Norwegian pop-band A-ha. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional a-ha is a band from Norway. They initially rose to fame during the 1980s but have had continued success in the 1990s and 2000s One song in particular has stayed in Martin's mind, as the following quote says: "As a 12 year old, "Hunting High and Low" was always in my head, and A-ha still continues to be an important band to me. " Hunting High and Low " is the fifth and last single from a-ha's debut album Hunting High and Low. " In 2005 Martin said "I was in Amsterdam the other day and I put on the album Hunting High and Low. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. I remembered right there and then how much I loved that album. It's just unbelievable songwriting. " He has also been known to copy the style of A-ha vocalist Morten Harket: "It was the way Morten Harket used to have different things on his wrists. Morten Harket (born 14 September 1959 in Kongsberg) is the lead singer of the Norwegian synthpop band A-ha, who have released Morten Harket (born 14 September 1959 in Kongsberg) is the lead singer of the Norwegian synthpop band A-ha, who have released I do it myself, still. He is the most disarming and beautiful man you'll ever meet. "

U2 has been another important influence on Martin both musically and politically^[4], he wrote for Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Artists of All Time^[5] the section on U2, saying: "I don't buy weekend tickets to Ireland and hang out in front of their gates, but U2 are the only band whose entire catalog I know by heart. Rolling Stone is a United States -based Magazine devoted to Music, Politics, and Popular culture that is published The first song on The Unforgettable Fire, "A Sort of Homecoming," I know backward and forward -- it's so rousing, brilliant and beautiful. The Unforgettable Fire is the fourth studio album by Irish rock band U2, released in 1984. " A Sort of Homecoming " is the first track of U2 's 1984 album The Unforgettable Fire. It's one of the first songs I played to my unborn baby. " Martin also comments on Bono's impact on his own charity and political efforts.

Martin has also cited Muse, The Smiths, Radiohead, Oasis, Bob Dylan, The Police, Sting, James, Travis, Embrace, Keane, Elbow, Arcade Fire, Kraftwerk and Brian Eno as influences. Muse are The Smiths were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1982 Radiohead Oasis are an English rock band that formed in Manchester in 1991 Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major The Police were a three-piece rock band consisting of Sting ( vocals, Bass guitar) Andy Summers ( Guitar, Gordon Matthew Thomas Sumner, CBE (born October 2, 1951) better known by his Stage name Sting, is a three time Academy Award James are an English rock band from Manchester. They formed in 1981 and were active throughout the 80s but most successful during the 90s Travis are a Scottish Alternative rock band from Glasgow, comprising Fran Healy ( lead vocals, Guitar, Piano, For the US punk band see Embrace (US band. Embrace are an English Rock band from Brighouse and Bradford Keane (kiːn are an English Piano rock band, first established in Battle, East Sussex in 1995, and taking their current Elbow are a Nationwide Mercury Prize winning English Alternative rock band Arcade Fire (often referred to as The Arcade Fire) is an Indie rock band based in Montreal, Quebec and fronted by the husband and wife duo Kraftwerk (ˈkʁaftvɛɐk German for " power plant " or " Power station " is an influential Electronic music band from Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno (born 15 May 1948 commonly known as Brian Eno (ˈiːnoʊ is an English Musician, producer

Other endeavours

Martin and Coldplay guitarist Jon Buckland made cameo appearances in the film Shaun of the Dead as supporters of the fictional charity ZombAid. A guitarist is a Musician who plays the Guitar. Guitarists may perform solo pieces or play with ensembles and bands of a wide variety of genres Jonathan Mark Buckland (born 11 September 1977 known as Jonny Buckland, is the lead Guitarist of the band Coldplay. A cameo role or cameo appearance (often shortened to just cameo) is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the Performing arts, such as Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 British Zombie -themed Comedy (or " rom zom com " as it dubs itself film In 2006 Martin had a cameo role in the second series episode four of the Ricky Gervais- and Stephen Merchant-created comedy Extras. Ricky Dene Gervais (dʒɜːˈveɪz born 25 June 1961 is an English Actor, Comedian, Writer, director, Producer and former Stephen James Merchant (born 24 November 1974 is a British Comedy Award - BAFTA - Emmy - and Golden Globe -award winning British writer Extras is a British television sitcom about extras working on Film sets and in Theatre.

Martin has been particularly outspoken on issues of fair trade and has done a great deal of campaigning for the charity Oxfam's Make Trade Fair campaign. Fair trade is an organized Social movement and market-based approach to empowering developing country producers and promoting sustainability Oxfam International is a confederation of 13 organizations working with over 3000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty and injustice Make Trade Fair is a campaign organized by Oxfam International to promote Trade justice and Fair trade among governments institutions and multinational He personally traveled to Ghana and Haiti to study the effects of unfair trade practices. The Republic of Ghana is a country in West Africa. It borders Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast to the west Burkina Faso to the north Togo to the Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: When performing, he usually has variations of "Make Trade Fair", "MTF" or an equal sign written on the back of his left hand and the letters "MTF" can be seen emblazoned on his piano. History The "=" symbol that is now universally accepted by mathematics for equality was first recorded by Welsh mathematician Robert Recorde in The

He was a vocal critic of President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. The 2003 invasion of Iraq, from March 20 to May 1 2003 was spearheaded by the United States, backed by British forces and smaller contingents from Australia Martin was a strong supporter of Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry, most notably during his acceptance speech for the 2004 Grammy Awards Record of the Year, accepting for "Clocks". The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. In United States politics and government the phrase presidential nominee has two distinct meanings } John Forbes Kerry (born December 11 1943 is an American Politician who is currently serving his fourth term as the junior United States Senator The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The Record of the Year is one of the four most prestigious Grammy Awards presented annually " Clocks " is a song by English Alternative rock band Coldplay.

On 1 April 2006, The Guardian reported that Martin was backing the British Conservative Party leader David Cameron and had written a new theme song for the party entitled "Talk to David". Events 527 - Byzantine Emperor Justin I names his nephew Justinian I as co-ruler and successor to the throne Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Guardian (until 1959 The Manchester Guardian) is a British Newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. David William Donald Cameron (born 9 October 1966 is a British Politician and the current leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of Her Majesty's The phrase theme music usually refers to that of a radio program, Television program, or Movie. ^[6][7] This was later revealed to be an April Fool's joke. This article is about the informal holiday For other uses see April Fool.

On 4 July 2006, Chris was an actor featured in Johnny Cash's music video for "God's Gonna Cut You Down". Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Johnny Cash (born J R Cash; February 26 1932 - September 12 2003 was a Grammy Award -winning American country Singer-songwriter.

Personal life

Martin studied at Sherborne School before going on to attend University College London. Sherborne School is a British Independent school for boys located in the town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset, England. University College London ( UCL) is a multi-faculty university institution based in the United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London

Martin married actress Gwyneth Paltrow on 5 December 2003. Gwyneth Kate Paltrow (born September 27 1972 is an Academy Award - Golden Globe - and double Screen Actors Guild Award -winning American Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Their daughter, Apple Blythe Alison Martin, was born on 14 May 2004 in London. Events 1264 - Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured in France making Simon de Montfort the "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Their second child, Moses Bruce Anthony Martin, was born on 8 April 2006 in New York City. Events 217 - Roman Emperor Caracalla is Assassinated (and succeeded by his Praetorian Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The City of New York Simon Pegg is one of Apple's godfathers^[8] Pegg is a close friend of Martin, and also of Paltrow following Pegg's appearance in Shaun of the Dead. Simon Pegg (born Simon John Beckingham; 14 February 1970) is an award-winning English Actor, Comedian, Writer Shaun of the Dead is a 2004 British Zombie -themed Comedy (or " rom zom com " as it dubs itself film Their children's other godfather is bandmate Jonny Buckland. Jonathan Mark Buckland (born 11 September 1977 known as Jonny Buckland, is the lead Guitarist of the band Coldplay.

Martin is ambidextrous: he writes with his left hand and draws with his right hand. Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both right and left Appendages (such as the Hands)

Martin is a vegetarian. ^[9]

Solo discography

See Coldplay discography for his work with that group. This is the discography of Coldplay, an English Alternative rock band formed in London in 1997

Gear

A Rush of Blood to the Head Tour

• C. F. Martin & Company Acoustic
• Rickenbacker 360/12
• 2x Fender Telecaster Deluxe
• Yamaha GT20 Piano
• Kawai MP9000

References

External links

• Official Coldplay website
• Chris Martin for Make Trade Fair
• Chris Martin at the Internet Movie Database
• Official Fansite
• Coldplay Wiki