MARTIN, DEWEY [CA]

Homebase: Seattle / Van Nuys, CA.
Stats: 1940--2009
Misc Notes: Dewey Martin was born in Canada and began playing drums at age 13. After forming a rock band in high school he went on to make a guest appearance singing "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On" backed by Andy Wilson's group local club act, Larry Lee and the Leesures as part of a rock & roll package show in Ottawa in the early 1960s. A Nashville-based producer saw him and invited him there to record. Over the following couple years Martin played with stars including Carl Perkins, the Everly Brothers,Patsy Cline, Charlie Rich, Roy Orbison and Faron Young. Young took him on the road out to Las Vegas and California where he met fellow drummer, Mel Taylor of Tacoma's hit-makers, the Ventures. Martin then connected with another Northwest group, Lucky Lee & The Blue Diamonds. In November 1964, he used local musicians to record his first single -- the standard "White Cliffs of Dover" backed by an original, "Somethin' or Other" -- for A&M Records, which was released under the guise of Sir Raleigh & The Cupons. During 1965 Sir Raleigh & The Cupons released two more singles on A&M – "While I Wait" / "Somethin' or Other" and "Tomorrow's Gonna Be Another Day" / "Whitcomb Street," plus a single for Tower – "Tell Her Tonight" / "If You Need Me." Martin then returned to Los Angeles and picked up local group the Sons of Adam (which at one point included Walla Walla guitar ace, Craig Tarwater) to support him back in the Northwest where they scored great gigs opening for the likes of the Beach Boys and Herman's Hermits. Martin then cut a final single for Tower – "I Don't Want to Cry" / "Always," which was released in February 1966. In 1980, the Picc-A-Dilly / First American label pulled together most of the Sir Raleigh & The Coupons material for the Dewey Martin album, One Buffalo Heard. Back in Los Angeles, Martin drummed at times with the Standells, the Modern Folk Quartet, and the Dillards. Then he made the connections with a newly forming group: Buffalo Springfield. Martin became the last member to join the legendary group at its founding. Along with Stephen Stills and Richie Furay, he was one of only three musicians to stay with the group from its inception in April 1966 to its disbandment on May 5, 1968. Martin next went on to form and record with the band Medicine Ball, which cut the tune "Indian Child" for the 1970 Angels Die Hard biker movie soundtrack. He then formed another band that included Seattle guitarist Joey Newman (ex-Merrilee & the Turnabouts). They soon recorded as Blue Mountain Eagle. Dewey passed at home in Van Nuys, California, in 2009.