Burning 50 Lifestyle Magazine Issue 3 January 2016 | Page 2

Just Believe In Love

Grammy Award winner Skip Martin works his musical magic as a lead vocalist, trumpet player, songwriter and producer. He entertains millions of people around the globe as a solo artist and as lead vocalist for Grammy Award-winning The Dazz Band.

As a former lead vocalist for Kool & the Gang, he received a platinum record as well as platinum and gold records with The Dazz Band. He received a MOBO Outstanding Achievement Award, is an R&B Song of the Year recipient and has had six consecutive top 100 albums and two top 100 singles.

As a testament to his skill and talent, Skip Martin’s music is found everywhere. Whatevaok Ent./RED, a Division of Sony Music Entertainment, is now distributing his independent label, Sound Success, K-Tel is distributing his label in Europe and he is collaborating with some of world’s best musicians in his latest releases.

In one of this year’s most sizzling collaborations, Martin is joined by Dizzy Gillespie protégé Arturo Sandoval in a remake of The Dazz Band’s 1982 classic “Just Believe in Love.” The song also features 14-time Grammy Nominee Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyra and Stefan Maier, lead violinist with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

At the other end of the musical spectrum, Martin teamed with DJ JackEL and Nikki Phoenix (JackELd Phoenix) on the electronic dance track “Two Hearts.” The EDM single hit 1 Million+ plays on SoundCloud within two weeks of its release.

“Bob Dylan covered Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney is featured with Kanye West on a Rihanna single,” says Martin. “You can’t stay in the music business without moving with it. But you can stay true to who you are as an artist while you’re having fun keeping things fresh.”

“Wanna Dance With You Remix,” the first single off his 2015 self-titled EP features a genius groove that touches on the best of late 70s, 80s, 90s and new millennium R&B sound. Smooth and effortless, the single highlights Martin’s signature vocal stylings that are heavily influenced by his deep dedication to jazz. The single is co-written and produced with Producer Walter “Mucho” Scott whose credits include working with Ted Riley, Blackstreet, Guy and Keith Sweat.

His tenor voice has a warm eclectic style developed through the years under the guise of maestro Stevie Wonder. Skip lists Miles Davis, Sammy Davis and Donny Hathaway as major influences on his musical development.

Skip’s love of jazz started at the age of eleven, and was enhanced when he won “Outstanding Trumpet Soloist” at the Monterey Jazz Festival whilst in high school. His first solo jazz CD, ‘Miles High’ features Ronnie Laws, Wayman Tisdale, Al McKay, Rickey Lawson and Bruce Conte. And his ‘Formal Dining’ CD features Tom Schuman of Spyro Gyro.

Skip is also involved in three all star bands featuring the lead singers of top selling bands performing as one band - from the classic rock era - Starship & Friends (Starship’s Mickey Thomas, Survivor’s Jimi Jamison and Toto’s Bobby Kimball ...) as well as Rock & Pop Masters (Orleans’ Larry Hoppen, Santana’s Alex Ligertwood and Romantics’ Wally Palmer...) and from the funk era - Masters of Funk (ConFunkshun’s Michael Cooper, BarKays’ Larry Dodson, Ohio Player’s Sugarfoot...) to name a few.

The self-titled EP is distributed by Whatevaok Ent./RED a Division of Sony Music Entertainment and is available on iTunes and Amazon.

“Two Hearts” feat. Skip Martin is distributed by Sights & Sounds Productions and is available on iTunes, Beatport and Amazon.

Follow Skip Martin:

Website: www.skipmartinmusic.com

Facebook: www.skipmartinfanpage

Twitter: www.twitter.com/skipmartinmusic.com

Instagram: www.intstagram.com/skipmartinmusic

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