He started playing the guitar at the age of 12. The young guitarist began playing professionally at the age of 14. One of his first breaks came when Bill Leader, who owned the Trailer label, discovered him. Leader recorded Simpson’s first album Golden Vanity. A few months later, Simpson was asked to join June Tabor’s band. In 1979 he joined the Albion Band and played with them on two subsequent tours.

In 1987, Simpson moved to the USA where he formed a duo with his American wife, Jessica Radcliffe Simpson. The duo released several albums. Simpson also played with the American band Metamora, and worked with Henry Gray, the Louisiana blues pianist.

Martin continued to extend his diverse talents in new directions with new recordings, including recent projects like Kambara Music in Native Tongues, with David Hidalgo of Los Lobos, and sets recorded at the "Masters of Slide Guitar Tour" with Bob Brozman and Indian slide guitar master Debashish Battacharya.

Also a renowned teacher, Martin gives workshops and master classes around the world, is a regular artist-in-residence at the prestigious National Guitar Summer Workshops, and has several teaching videos to his credit, produced by Homespun Tapes and Alfred Publishing. In addition, he is an honorary guitarist for the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA), a prominent instrument builders guild. Martin also frequently tours with his longtime bass player and all-around musical cohort, Doug Robinson, who has appeared on most of Martin and Jessica's recent albums.

Official Web Site: www.martinsimpson.com

Golden Vanity

Grinning in Your Face (Fledg'ling, 1983)

Music of Ireland 1988

A Cut Above, with June Tabor (Topic, 1989)

Leaves of Life (Shanachie, 1989)

When I Was on Horseback (Shanachie, 1991)

A Closer Walk With Thee (Gourd Music, 1994)

The Collection (Topic, 1994)

Special Agent (Fledg'ling, 1995)

Smoke & Mirrors (Shanachie, 1995)

Red Roses, with Jessica Ruby Simpson (Rhiannon, 1995)

Live (Beautiful Jo, 1996)

Band of Angels, with Jessica Simpson (1996)

Cool & Unusual (Red House, 1997)

Music for the Motherless Child, with Wu Man (Water Lily Acoustics, 1997)

Bootleg USA (Simpsonian, 1999)

Beautiful Darkness: Celebrating the Winter Solstice (2000)

True Dare or Promise (Fledg'ling, 2000)

The Bramble Briar (High Bohemia Records, 2001)

Righteousness and Humidity (Topic, 2003)

Kind Letters (Topic, 2005)

Prodigal Son (Topic, 2007)

True Stories (Topic, 2009)