COVENTRY Music Museum Curator Pete Chambers writes for the Observer.

Bye Bye Johnny

It’s with sadness, I report the passing of one of Coventry’s finest rock ‘n’ roll and country musicians Martin John Upperdine (AKA Johnny Martin, Martin Perdine) who passed peacefully away on the September 11 at home.

As Johnny Martin, he was a member of one of Coventry’s first rock ‘n’ roll band The Atlantics.

I interviewed him back in the day about the band and he said: “We were the first rock ‘n’ roll band in the area as far as I can remember – I’m talking about a real working band that played shows, not just rehearsed in their bedrooms or whatever.

“As I recall there was us (The Atlantics) from Coventry, The Grasshoppers from Birmingham and The Dolphins from Nuneaton – I couldn’t tell you who was in them, but they were the only rock ‘n’ roll bands we had heard of in 1959.”

The band included Don Kerr – lead guitar, Johnny Martin – vocals, Mick Calcott – bass, Eddie Milton – rhythm guitar and Tony Chambers – drums.

Johnny left to go professional and teamed up with the legendary manager Reg Calvert.

They would form the backbone of his new venture called Johnny Martin with Freddie Were and the Werewolves.

Because of his dyed blond hair Johnny was immediately christened ‘The big beat blond bombshell’.

Years later Johnny now known as Martin Perdine became Coventry’s top country singers with his band The Big City Boys.

In 1974 they appeared on BBC Radio 2’s prestigious country and western show ‘Up Country’.

He also did session work and played guitar on records by Patsy Powell and Jeannie Sinclair.

I’m indebted to Martin’s good friend Peter Styche who had given the Music Museum a complete stage ensemble of the man himself including a suit, cowboy boots and his Stetson hat.

RIP Martin.

Ghostpoet the final degree

I was honoured to be in the company of Obaro Ejimiwe last week as he received his honorary degree at Coventry University.

Most will know Obaro by his stage name Ghostpoet, a highly articulate and intelligent artist who has shook the music world since his first album ‘Peanut Butter Blues and Melancholy Jam’ was nominated for a prestigious Mercury prize in 2011.

His 2015 album ‘Shedding Skin’ was also nominated.

His fourth album ‘Dark Days + Canapes’ charted at 39 in the national charts with Andy Gill of the Independent giving a five out of five review.

His raw originality has never disappointed, and he remains indefinable and that’s the way he wants to keep it.

It’s great to see him join the Honorary Degree club, a club I’m so proud to be part of.

Obaro obviously loved his day and gave him time to reflect on his Coventry days when he attended Coventry University as a student.

I briefly caught up with him when he played Godiva Festival a few years ago and last week re-invited him to the Coventry Music Museum, always an open invitation to someone who has helped put the city on the map.