Martyn was destined to play the guitar when he first picked up a tennis racket and stood posing in front of a mirror, miming to the radio. In the sadly mistaken belief that it would help him "pull", he started playing seriously as soon as he was out of short trousers... of course, it didn't quite work out that way, because he then became a total guitar geek and didn't get out enough to actually meet any girls...
 
So, eventually, Martyn progressed through various local cover bands before landing the full-time job of guitarist with soul band Chairmen of The Board in the late seventies. Then a similar stint with The Realistics, touring Germany; then an attempt at “stardom” with rock band Dirty Money. With influences such as Santana, Larry Carlton (Crusaders) and Nile Rodgers (Chic), Martyn was soon in demand with a variety of soul bands and artists but his pro career eventually ended when a young family came along, bringing the need for a “proper job”.