Martin Campbell

The Early Years
Martin Campbell was born in Germany, in 1955. When he was two years old his
family moved to Jamaica. He soon discovered a talent for music and by the age of
seven was an accomplished pianist! After spending two years at the famous Alpha
Boys' School, Martin moved on to Military school. He also joined the Sea Cadets
where his aptitude for music was encouraged and he learnt to play the Side Drum
and Bugle.
The Sixties
During the mid sixties, Martin and his family moved to Halfway Tree. Around the
same time he obtained his first (Grundig) tape recorder. His early recordings
were of the songs he played on the piano – but it later lead to greater things!
In 1968 the family moved to Southern England.
The Seventies
With Martin's love of Jamaican music it wasn't long before he began regularly
picking up the latest Reggae releases from a local shop. Amongst his early
influences, he cites Horace Andy, Dennis Brown, and Fred Locks. Martin says of
the music of those times: "Back in those days, when they used real musicians,
plus the combination of good quality recording equipment and techniques, the
result was a very tight sound, with a very heavy bottom (Bass) end." In 1979,
Martin Campbell set up his first studio using a 4 track Teac recording deck
combined with an Alice 8 track mixing desk.