Martin Luther

Every so often, in the midst of countless records that basically sound the same, a breath of fresh air rolls around. A glimmering light sometimes explodes through the dark seas of redundant and over-recycled music. And sometimes, when we need it most, we find a pop and cultural movement that transcends music to a higher level. Music extraordinaire, Martin Luther is now being called one of music next big movements. Exactly where do you fit an artist that can belt out a gospel hymn that will make you catch the holy ghost, strike the chords of a guitar like Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, and pen a hit reminiscent of Earth Wind and Fire, Prince and Sly & The Family Stone all rolled into one? The answer is both nowhere and everywhere. The truth of the matter is that Martin Luther is just one bad-ass artist who doesn't neatly fit into any one particular category. His is a story of Choir Boy-Turned-Rocker, and his music is a tireless blend of rock, blues, funk and R&B that will indubitably stand the test of time. Martin Luther remarkably combines past and future sounds to give us the very best of global music. Couple such an esteemed name with an unparalleled style of musicianship, then mix that with an innate ability to create sheer magic on both a guitar and a microphone and finally, you have one unbelievably exceptional formula for well, just that...a movement. Although his is not a name you would typically associate with music--once you've heard his voice and his story, you're not likely to forget him. The multi-talented singer, songwriter, musician and producer has been bubbling quietly within the music world, and has already energized music lovers across the globe with collaborations with some of Pop and Hip Hop's finest. Keeping good company, Martin Luther is currently touring with The Roots during the OkayPlayer 2004 Tour. Lending his gospel-flavored voice to an already remarkable live show, Luther and The Roots join forces to yield one of the most impressive Hip Hop and R&B performances ever. Martin Luther delivers unforgettable renditions of Roots classics, followed by cuts from both The Roots and Martin Luther's (Rebel Soul Music) forthcoming albums. It's easy to understand how the legacy of a name can make it virtually impossible to not expect great things. Similar to the late Dr. Martin Luther, Jr., Martin Luther was raised on a diet of choir hymns and stringent rules set forth by strict, religious parents. As a youngster, he was forced to take traditional piano lessons so that he could one day play in church. Although his parents had one thing planned for him, the young rebel clearly had something else in mind for himself. After being exposed to the psychedelic sounds of Parliament Funkadelic by his brother, Martin Luther found his true calling. A young music revolutionary was born, and his mission began. Outfitted with a strong sense of community, musicianship and humanity, Martin Luther began to fulfill his perpetual need to inspire his community, gender and race with lyrics that uplift, music that stimulates and a voice that elevates. Becoming enamored with everything funk Martin Luther rebelled against tickling the ivories. Bored and unmoved by conventional music lessons early on encouraged the young Martin Luther to find his own voice, develop his own style and create his own musical path. "I could hear music, so I was using my ear to teach me how to do what I wanted to do, but my teacher had her way of doing things. We would always be at war come rehearsal time, so the formal training ended up just not working out." Martin Luther assimilated notes and sounds innately, not missing a beat and continuing to play the keyboard, learning to manipulate the drums and finally mastering his secret weapon--the guitar. "There are other forms of music that the guitar is exemplary in, but when it comes down to Rock and Roll, it's an attitude, it's rebellious, it's aggressive, it pulls you into an uplifted darkness that only the guitar can bring or can deliver or can make you feel. That's a part of me, that current runs through my veins and always has and always will." After the underrated success of his independently released debut, The Calling, Martin Luther sparked the interest of avid music fans both nationally and abroad. Also attracting the attention of major music critics and reviewers, Martin Luther received well-deserved praises for becoming one of music's next BIG things. The Calling conveyed something refreshingly invigorating...a fiery expression of Rock and Soul. Martin recalled that, "The music from The Calling came from being alive, being reached by people who have come and gone in my life, and helped me to see beyond what I could see on my own." He further described the songs from the album as, "Being from situations that were going on in my life, like 'Black-eyed Susan,' a personal calling to a sister in a domestic violence situation. 'Soul Assassinator' which is about a soul that is suppressed and suffocating." Now with a below the radar, but above the bar anthology of music under his belt, Martin Luther is poised to open minds and hearts all around the world. Although Martin Luther's music is heavily marinated in the sounds of Jimi Hendrix, James Brown, Sly & The Family Stone and Stevie Wonder, amongst others, he is quick to down play comparisons to both the old and new. While he idolizes the sounds of yesteryear, he doesn't debase or compare himself to today's artists. "I don't look at myself as having the baddest voice, it's just a unique instrument and I'm just trying to do with it the best that I can. I have reached myself as an individual and because of that, everything that I do is different from everything somebody else does. I've been on the ground running since birth, it's a lifelong process." After a long-awaited lull, he is finally set to release his highly anticipated sophomore release entitled, Rebel Soul Music. Martin Luther fans should expect to be revitalized, seduced and empowered with elements of Funk, Punk, R&B, Blues and Jazz. Inspired by real-life stories of love, redemption, hope and freedom, Rebel Soul Music is a timeless blend of wisdom, brilliance, and passion that tells a story like a good book. "What I'm talking about on this album is more aggressive, but it's soul as well. It's addressing the mentality of a culture in certain songs, while it's addressing the fact that I'm having an affair in another. It's not just your typical, happy-to-be album." In 'Rise' Martin Luther unleashes the pain and frustration of the degradation of his race, community and gender. The touching tribute celebrates the importance and power of the black mind, and more specifically the black male mindset, while 'Pimpmobile' offers a vivid account of the callous life of the streets. On 'Pimpmobile,' the San Francisco native called on his friend, funk guru and icon, King of Funk, George Clinton. Clinton and Martin Luther collaborate on this wickedly promising, mid-tempo cut that brilliantly brings to life the gritty stories and spirit of streetlife and hustling. Laced with jazzy instrumentation and profound annotations, 'Pimpmobile' further paints the picture of the underworld and details the wild and colorful life of the streets. On 'No Place Like Home' Luther pays tribute to his San Francisco roots with a heartfelt homage to his hometown. 'Ms. America' celebrates the never-ending joys and pains...loss and gains of American life. Martin Luther delivers a track that is both, catchy and intelligent, yet frighteningly accurate. A difficult feat to accomplish, Luther has created a song destined to become a national anthem that saddens, elevates, and celebrates all at once. The slow and savory seduction of 'Lust,' deals with the heartache and distress of longing for someone that's already spoken for. However, the fire and passion comes across so deeply and profoundly in his delivery that it would make any woman leave her man for just a little taste of 'Lust' with Martin Luther. Simply put, Rebel Soul Music is devoid of the same pounding noises heard on virtually every song on the radio. Instead Martin Luther cuts to the chase with a collection of one of the most prolific, revolutionary projects in a long time. Rebel Soul Music is aggressive, relevant and inspiring. Martin Luther's lyrics of self-empowerment, wrapped around stories of love and seduction, dipped into post-punk and rock arrangements gives listeners a complete idea of not only where music has come from, but also where it can go. With a project so ingenious that it's already building a buzz, months before its release, and chaotic tour schedule with The Roots, you would expect that Martin Luther might be losing his focus on revolutionizing music and get caught up in the madness of the music industry. However, as a graduate of Morehouse College, with a degree in Media Arts and a concentration in Entertainment Law and Marketing, Luther thoroughly understands the business and doesn't let it baffle him. Perched high on his limb, Martin Luther observes, continues to learn, and patiently waits to unleash his Rebel Soul Music to the world. Martin Luther is currently on The OkayPlayer 2004 Tour, which kicked off nationally and wraps up overseas. The rebel also wrote a special song just for O, The Oprah Magazine, which was featured on Oprah. Martin Luther appeared on The Chris Rock Show and alongside George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Jill Scott, Eric Benet, and Cody Chestnutt, to name a few. Most recently, Martin Luther gave an unforgettable performance with music icon Dave Matthews at the NAACP Image Awards.