15/08/2008

Jonty Martindale - Vocals, acoustic & electric guitars

Jonty was born in, and still lives in Kendal. (D.O.B 24.11.57). He began playing guitar and singing around the age of 9, having already developed quite a mature taste in music (and a reasonable record collection) from listening to and collecting the likes of Al Jolson, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and on to  Elvis Presley and The Beatles, etc.

Jonty still collects avidly, never seeming to tire of reading about, and listening to an extraordinary amount of material, including any new artists coming out of the States. Consequently, he is well equipped to select the material for the band.

After an apprenticeship in various local bands, Jonty founded Freeway, which has to be one of the best club bands to come out of the North West. Bass player Dave Kinley, and lead guitarist Steve Breakell were also band members. The band's 15 year history included playing alongside many notable acts, including The Squeeze, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Lonnie Donegan, etc.

Freeway evolved in 1994, with Dave Kinley, Steve Breakell and Mark Langdon choosing a rockier route (see Dave's biog). Meanwhile Jonty formed The Fabulous Picasso Brothers, taking Freeway's Stuart Macfarlane on keyboards and guitar. John Clarke joined on drums, along with Gary Thistlethwaite on bass and Trevor Hird on lead guitar.

John, Gary and Trevor had been working together in White Line Fever, one of the most highly respected bands on the Country circuit. They had backed many major artists, played at Wembley Festival and worked professionally in the US for a number of years.

Jonty had been listening to and collecting New Country, Country Rock and Country & Western for some time. Seeing an opportunity, The Fabulous Picasso Brothers took form. With such experienced musicians, it only took two rehearsals to put together  enough material to begin gigging. Jonty explains that that was the easy part. The clubs and festivals were booking anything up to one year in advance, so despite the progress of the newly named band, work was slow for the first year. Nonetheless, some smaller clubs were willing to put the band on, and once word spread, the diary filled up.

As line dancing took hold of the Country circuit in the UK, and the emergence of the "Karaoke Cowboy" reduced the band's Country bookings, a decision was made to return to the "Freeway roots" of mainstream covers, whilst keeping one foot in the Country door. The band's repertoire now consists of over 250 songs, embracing all genres, to suit all occasions.

Despite running two businesses, Jonty also organises the band and chooses the material. He is a bit of a party animal, as his friends will attest to. His lively and energetic personality is apparent both on and off stage.