finetune artist: Martin Sexton

b. 2 March 1966, Syracuse, New York, USA. One of 12 children born to an office-equipment salesman father, Sexton got his start in music as a member of the covers band, By Design. At the end of the 80s the singer-songwriter had relocated to Boston, waiting tables and rehearsing his own compositions in his free time. In 1992 he assembled a home-made demo album of his compositions. Largely via word of mouth, the self-promoted In The Journey went on to sell 25,000 copies, eventually winning Sexton the National Academy Of Songwriters' 1994 Artist Of The Year award. It was followed by a second collection, Black Sheep, released on the independent Eastern Front label in 1996. That paved the way for his 1998 major label debut, The American. Informed by his Catholic background, the album offered Sexton's richly-textured, dramatic and concise songwriting, alongside a distinctive singing voice. Produced by Danny Kortchmar, The American's songs, particularly "My Maria" and "Where It Begins", won Sexton swathes of new fans and was warmly embraced by critics worldwide.

Listen to Martin Sexton at Finetune.

(2000) Wonder Bar
(1998) The American
(1998) The American
(1996) Black Sheep

Glory Bound
Diner
Black Sheep
Hallelujah
Gypsy Woman