BUCKO

Lead & Backing Vocal

 

Lead - Slide Acoustic - Bass & Rhythm Guitar

 

Main Songwriter

 

Martin was born with a curvature of the spine and spent most of his formative years, during which he had to have both legs amputated, at various Dr Barnardos homes, including the New Mossford Center, where he began playing guitar at the age of nine years. During his time at the New Mossford he met and teamed up with his first song-writing partner and soon to be best friend, the late Billy Walsh. Together they formed MOSS-ROCK with other children at the center, all of whom suffered from varying disabilities, during 1975. After several successful years and a name change to WIDE OPEN, which saw the band perform in Europe and Japan, including several broadcast concerts, the band went their separate ways in 1980

Martin and Billy continued to write and perform together, until 1992 when Martin was asked to play in the backing band for 60s diva TWINKLE, which he did for two years, teaming back up with Billy, who by now was too ill to perform live, to write material for a proposed album. Unfortunately Billy passed away in 1997 at the age of 36, before any tracks could be laid down. Martin promised Billy that he would get the album finished.

 

Determined not to let their efforts go to waste, Martin began a search for musicians to join him in the studio to create a tribute to Billys talent. After five years of playing and recording with various bands in the South of England, Martin pulled everyone together and during weekends throughout 2000/2002, at Big Noise Recording Studios in Rochford, ESSEX, under the guidance of Chief Engineer, Simon Davies, and which puts a new twist on some of Billys songs.

 

Martin currently plays guitar for Twice Removed, a British Rocking Rhythm n Blues outfit from Southend-on-Sea in ESSEX whose motto is We are that damned good!! and who regularly play live around the Home Counties.