John David "Moon" Martin (October 31, 1945 – May 11, 2020)[1] was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.

Career

Born in Altus, Oklahoma, United States, Martin gained recognition in the 1970s as a pop artist and composer. Originally a rockabilly artist, he wrote the songs "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor, Doctor)", made famous by the English singer Robert Palmer, and "Cadillac Walk", made famous by the American singer Willy DeVille.[2]

Martin scored five minor hits of his own with "Rolene" (No. 30 US, No. 77 Australia[3]), "No Chance" (No. 50 US), both in 1979,[4] "Signal For Help" (No. 60 Australia) in 1981, "X-ray Vision", (No. 99) and "Aces For You" (No. 95) both in Australia in 1982. His 1982 song, "X-Ray Vision" was an MTV hit music video.[3]

He allegedly was given the nickname "Moon" because many of his songs had the word moon in the lyrics.[2]

Martin died on May 11, 2020, of natural causes in Encino, California, at the age of 74.[1][5][6]

On October 31, 2022, Midnight Moon,[7] a posthumous album, is released, only available on several music streaming services.

Discography

Studio albums

  • Shots from a Cold Nightmare (1978, Capitol Records)
  • Escape from Domination (1979, Capitol) - #80, Billboard 200; #67, RPM Magazine Top 100[8]
  • Street Fever (1980, Capitol) - #138, Billboard 200, #63 AUS[3]
  • Mystery Ticket (1982, Capitol) - #205, Billboard 200
  • Mixed Emotions (1985, Capitol France)
  • Dreams on File (1992, Fnac France)
  • Cement Monkey (1993, CORE)
  • Lunar Samples (1995, CORE)
  • Louisiana Juke-Box (1999, Sonodisc France-Eagle UK)
  • Midnight Moon (2022, Joanne Gough)

Live albums

  • Bad News Live (1993, Fnac France)

Compilation albums

  • The Very Best Of (1999, EMI Sweden, 1978-1982)
  • Shots from a Cold Nightmare + Escape from Domination (1995, EMI Special Markets, Demon Records)
  • "Street Fever + Mystery Ticket (1995, EMI Special Markets, Edsel Records)

References

  1. 1 2 "John "Moon" Martin 1945 - 2020". Los Angeles Times. May 24, 2020. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  2. 1 2 Prato, Greg "Moon Martin Biography", AllMusic. Retrieved November 23, 2013
  3. 1 2 3 Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 193. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  4. ↑ "Billboard Albums/Singles", AllMusic Retrieved November 23, 2013
  5. ↑ "Moon Martin Dies: Musician Wrote 'Bad Case of Loving You'". Bestclassicbands.com. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Bad News, le chanteur Moon Martin est mort". Lefigaro.fr. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  7. ↑ Desk, BFN's (2022-10-25). "Latest News Moon Martin's long-awaited album 'Midnight Moon' is coming out on his birthday, October 31st". Businessfortnight. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  8. ↑ "RPM Top 100 Albums - November 3, 1979" (PDF). Collectionscanada.gc.ca.
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