Martyn Ford

Martyn Ford is an English musician born on 28 April 1944. He is celebrated for his orchestral contributions to rock music albums in the 1970s and 1980s. Ford's roots trace back to Rugby, Warwickshire, and his affinity for music was fostered by his classical training where he studied French horn at the Royal Academy of Music. In his senior year at the academy, his passion led him to form his own orchestra, debuting at the prestigious Royal Albert Hall just a few months post-graduation.

Ford didn't just limit his talent to orchestral performances, he ventured into arranging and conducting music as well. His work can be heard in releases by esteemed talents such as Caravan, Barclay James Harvest, Bryan Ferry, Ginger Baker, Johnny Nash, Three Man Army, Japan and Elton John. His knack for blending music styles was clear in the soundtrack for the film Tommy where he was part of the arranger and conductor. Ford even had an early stint playing horn for the Spencer Davis Group in the decade. His solo work as the Martyn Ford Orchestra resulted in his 1976 album Smoovin, which featured artists like Mike Moran, Ann Odell, Simon Phillips, Morris Pert, John Gustafson and Mel Collins. The album gave birth to a hit in the UK Singles Chart, titled 'Let Your Body Go Downtown', which significantly peaked at No. 38 in 1977 and No. 34 on the NME singles chart. His music prowess didn't dwindle in the 1980s as he continued his work with iconic artists such as Kate Bush, Phil Collins and Dave Davies, showcasing the breadth and depth of his musical capabilities.