Marty Sammon
| Marty Sammon | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Martin J. Sammon |
| Also known as | Slammin Sammon, Chicago's 190 proof keyboardist |
| Born |
October 14, 1977 Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| Genres | Chicago blues, electric blues, ragtime, New Orleans jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter, author |
| Instruments | Piano, vocals, guitar |
| Years active | 1993–present |
| Labels | Independent |
| Associated acts | Buddy Guy, Phil Guy, Otis Rush, Chuck Leavell, Robert Randolph, Tom Hambridge, Quinn Sullivan, Darren Thiboutot Jr. |
| Website | www |
Marty Sammon (born October 14, 1977) is an American blues keyboardist. He is recognized for his energetic performances, improvisation and mastery of traditional styles (ragtime and blues). Sammon has established himself as an ambassador of Chicago blues appearing 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.
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. He competed in contests, including the World Championship Old-Time Piano Players (winning championships in 1994 and 1995).
At the age of 15, he began playing on the Chicago blues scene with the South Side guitarist L.V. Banks. He was under age and was driven to venues by his father, but he absorbed the sound and language of Chicago blues.
Sammon began receiving calls to play with many Chicago artists, including Phil Guy. He performed and toured with Guy and other blues musicians for years, while also performing headlining gigs, including a tour in Latvia. 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.
...
Wikipedia