john Arthur martinez

A voice that takes you back to the country crooners of the 1960s.

Texas resident john Arthur martinez came second ahead of Miranda Lambert on American TV's Nashville Star in 2003, and he also co-wrote Seguro Que Hell Yes on Flaco Jimenez's self-titled 1994 album that went on to win a Grammy. His silky smooth and very rich voice is just a pleasure to listen to, whether signing the pulsating Purgatory Road with driving guitar solos alongside fiddle and powerful backing vocals that would not have sounded out of place on a Garth Brooks album, or the gorgeous Que No Puede Ver (the on who got away) on wich he alternates between English and Spanish his voice is just relaxing. Make yourself a large Latte, put this CD in your player, sit back in your Chair and just relax. DK - Maverick

“PURGATORY ROAD [is] a dark, well-written and -performed 11-song CD with a bit of sunlight, filled with personal-sounding stories and good music. Martinez has a nice, expressive voice with pretty good range that adds a level of drama ... The CD’s best songs … might be ... ‘Utopia,’ the story of a man's battles with adversity, or ‘Thunder & Lightning’ that doesn't bring the rain that would wash the sadness from his eyes, or the sad love song ‘Que No Puede Ver’ that manages to avoid most of the Latin clichés. …”

— Buddy



“Cowboy imagery is prevalent on [PURGATORY ROAD]: horses, being ‘on the run,’ Colorado eagles, sleepy border towns, et cetera. Such imagery is hardly new, but between martinez’s skillful use of the language and the relative lack of cowboy themes in modern music, it feels fresh and intriguing. Minor chords, lonesome fiddles and loud electric guitars are prevalent, maintaining a deep, dark, dusky tone on even the up-tempo songs. All of the songs rely on sharp, detailed lyrics, not once forcing the messages or relying on a trite line for the sake of catchiness. … [He’s] made one impressive piece of work.”

— Roughstock.com



“Sure, [john Arthur martinez] is considered a country musician, but PURGATORY ROAD is more a collection of short stories than an album … Close attention to the lyrics yields thoughtful tales of loss and hope, like the title track and album highlight, ‘Closer to My Dreams’.”

— Austin Monthly



“Nashville Star’s first-season runner-up john Arthur martinez (the eccentric capitalization scheme is a nod to poetry hero e.e. cummings) didn’t immediately parlay his TV notoriety into mainstream success, but he has spent the ensuing six years building both a solid catalog and a loyal following centered in his native Texas. PURGATORY ROAD finds john sounding a little moodier than usual, as signaled by the keening steel guitar that kicks off opening cut ‘Utopia.’ Hopefully this will be the moment that the national audience john briefly held six years ago comes back around to a remarkably consistent talent.”

— Country Weekly



“[PURGATORY ROAD’s] title tune is a bluesy, downbeat look at these rough economic times. It swirls with drama that climaxes in murder. Gripping, to say the least. The production textures are superb throughout the set, from the Latin groove of ‘Que No Puede Ver’ to the rolling country-rock of ‘On the Run’ and the rumbling, accusatory ‘You Can’t Outdrink the Truth.’ Hearty recommendation.”

— Robert K. Oermann, Music Row



“Like his college roommate Todd Snider, john Arthur martinez tends toward the folky side of country-flavored story-songs. PURGATORY ROAD finds an even keel with the rough highway tales of self-incrimination and loss (‘Can’t Outdrink the Truth,’ ‘Utopia’) that are thoughtful without wallowing in hopelessness and despair (‘Cobalt Blue,’ ‘Thunder & Lightning’). ‘Que No Puede Ver’ puts him square in the Americano camp, too.”

— The Austin Chronicle



“Kent Finlay and the Cheatham Street Warehouse are world-famous for incubating and nurturing fledgling songwriters. john Arthur martinez is a graduate of both Texas State and Kent Finlay’s ‘school’ of songwriting. Martinez is a Texas poet who writes gorgeous lyrics. His voice, which is not always the case with songwriters, matches almost flawlessly with his music. His long-awaited CD, PURGATORY ROAD, is finally out.”

— Today In San Marcos



“This should easily make the top album list for 2009 for every Americana radio programmer. Fantastic, diverse and just amazing.”

— Shayne Hollinger, Mandatory FM



“Soft rain on a tin roof on a lazy Sunday morning ... a gentle breeze through the trees ...That’s the sense of pleasant calm one experiences as john Arthur martinez’s pure, melodic voice expertly delivers some of the finest songwriting examples available on the Americana music scene in his latest project, PURGATORY ROAD. Texas Rebel Radio has enjoyed jAm’s incredible projects for years. He was my first on-air interview nearly 14 years ago. And, it is a distinct honor to support this incredible effort. john Arthur, my friend, you have truly outdone yourself with this graceful music creation. Thank you for allowing us all to listen in!”

— Dawn Dale, P.D., The Texas Rebel Radio Network



“john Arthur martinez is one of the great Texas singer-songwriters. Having seen him perform as a solo artist and with his band, it’s evident that this guy is the real thing.”

— Ray Benson, GRAMMY Award-winning Asleep at the Wheel front man



“PURGATORY ROAD does indeed include a variety of musical styles. It begins strongly with ‘Utopia,’ a thought-provoking Americana-esque number. … The rockier title track continues in this darker vein and was apparently inspired by a harrowing experience the singer’s daughter had with a dodgy loan shark who went to extreme lengths to ensure payment was made. ‘I made a deal with the Devil to pay what I owe, now I’m driving like hell down Purgatory Road,’ sings Martinez menacingly. On ‘Que No Puede Ver (Can’t She See),’ the verses alternate between English and Spanish, with the Spanish words, as well as an accordion, adding a real Mexican flavor to the proceedings. The sense of yearning in the song was inspired by a girl with whom Martinez fell in love at college, but who, unfortunately, did not share his feelings. ‘Closer to my Dreams,’ a song about following the heart, is the real stand-out track of the album, with its utterly gorgeous melody, sublime mandolin, emotive guitar licks and positive, upbeat lyrics: ‘I’ll be closer to Austin and closer to my dreams.’ Other high points include: ‘The Ride,’ a tune that wouldn’t sound out of place in a Western; ‘Cobalt Blues,’ with its slow-burning groove; and the romantic Spanish guitar that lights up ‘What Good is I Love You’.”

— suite101.com

- Various

It's funny how the most commercially successful Nashville Star winner by far was Miranda Lambert, who placed third way back in the show's first season. I bet you don’t even remember who the winner was that season, do you? (Buddy Jewell.) In between those two artists was some guy named john Arthur martinez (who uses lowercased letters in his name as a nod to the poet e.e. cummings). Like Jewell, jAm was a good ol’ southern boy in his 40s, with a couple indie records already under his belt. Unlike Jewell, however, martinez has a lot more to say, and a much more effective way of saying it.

Purgatory Road is led off by a pair of dusky mid-tempos about one desolate man: he was raised in a pickup truck, he’s fought with the bottle, lost all his paycheck on a bad bet, made some deals with the Devil, and now he’s “too low-down broke to buy [his] own beer,” so he holds up the Quick Stop. Between the dark lyrics and gritty production and the bitter resentment in his vocals, these two songs pack quite an emotional punch.

“Can’t Outdrink the Truth” carries that same bitter tone, with the narrator trying in vain to drown a broken heart; martinez sounds so truly agonized over his former love that the lyric cuts right to the bone. Next comes “Thunder & Lightning,” using a very intriguing metaphor, comparing a former lover to thunder and lightning only to add “but you bring me no rain,” leaving him like a wilting, drying flower on parched ground. “Que No Puede Ver” (“Can’t She See”) brings some Tex-Mex spice to the album, blending a lonesome steel with congas and accordion, as well as some evocative Spanish lyrics. (This song is also the oldest on the album, having been written in the 1980s.) A Latin flavor also shows up on “What Good Is I Love You,” about a man who comes to senses over his broken heart after reading the Bible. This song hinges on the great lyric “What good is ‘I love you’ if it ain’t never been said?”

The mood brightens halfway through, starting with “Closer to My Dreams,” a more upbeat song about a man who decides to run away from home and pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. He finds the delicate balance of yearning and slight regret over his leaving, making for a very compelling song that still fits nicely on the album. “The Ride” also keeps the more upbeat tone, using convincing Western similes to describe the excitement of falling in love. Lyrics such as “Even if we never reach our destination, the reward is in the ride” say so much more than the simple motivational-poster lines of, say, Miley Cyrus’ “The Climb.” This song and “On the Run” transition easily to the sultry “Cobalt Blue,” about a sexy female that the narrator just can’t look away from. The slowly-shuffling closer “When You Whisper in My Ear” is a soft, sweet love ballad with a crying steel solo, sounding like a great 1990s neo-traditionalist ballad even on the Spanish second verse.

Cowboy imagery is prevalent on the album: horses, being “on the run,” Colorado eagles,
sleepy border-towns, et cetera. Such imagery is hardly new, but between Martinez’ skillful use of the language and the relative lack of cowboy themes in modern music, it feels fresh and intriguing. Minor chords, lonesome fiddles and loud electric guitars are prevalent, maintaining a deep, dark, dusky tone on even the up-tempo songs. All of the songs rely on sharp, detailed lyrics, not once forcing the messages 0r relying on a trite line for the sake of catchiness. There's no way in the world that this album would ever be a commercial success, but even if it just sells a few thousand copies back home, I'm sure J.A. will be satisfied. Because he has made one impressive piece of work. - RoughStock.com

It's funny how the most commercially successful Nashville Star winner by far was Miranda Lambert, who placed third way back in the show's first season. I bet you don't even remember who the winner was that season, do you? (Buddy Jewell.) In between those two artists was some guy named john Arthur martinez (who uses lowercased letters in his name as a nod to the poet e.e. cummings). Like Jewell, jAm was a good ol' southern boy in his 40s, with a couple indie records already under his belt. Unlike Jewell, however, martinez has a lot more to say, and a much more effective way of saying it.

Purgatory Road is led off by a pair of dusky mid-tempos about one desolate man: he was raised in a pickup truck, he's fought with the bottle, lost all his paycheck on a bad bet, made some deals with the Devil, and now he's "too low-down broke to buy [his] own beer," so he holds up the Quick Stop. Between the dark lyrics and gritty production and the bitter resentment in his vocals, these two songs pack quite an emotional punch.

"Can't Outdrink the Truth" carries that same bitter tone, with the narrator trying in vain to drown a broken heart; martinez sounds so truly agonized over his former love that the lyric cuts right to the bone. Next comes "Thunder & Lightning," using a very intriguing metaphor, comparing a former lover to thunder and lightning only to add "but you bring me no rain," leaving him like a wilting, drying flower on parched ground. "Que No Puede Ver" ("Can't She See") brings some Tex-Mex spice to the album, blending a lonesome steel with congas and accordion, as well as some evocative Spanish lyrics. (This song is also the oldest on the album, having been written in the 1980s.) A Latin flavor also shows up on "What Good Is I Love You," about a man who comes to senses over his broken heart after reading the Bible. This song hinges on the great lyric "What good is 'I love you' if it ain't never been said?"

The mood brightens halfway through, starting with "Closer to My Dreams," a more upbeat song about a man who decides to run away from home and pursue his dreams of becoming a musician. He finds the delicate balance of yearning and slight regret over his leaving, making for a very compelling song that still fits nicely on the album. "The Ride" also keeps the more upbeat tone, using convincing Western similes to describe the excitement of falling in love. Lyrics such as "Even if we never reach our destination, the reward is in the ride" say so much more than the simple motivational-poster lines of, say, Miley Cyrus' "The Climb." This song and "On the Run" transition easily to the sultry "Cobalt Blue," about a sexy female that the narrator just can't look away from. The slowly-shuffling closer "When You Whisper in My Ear" is a soft, sweet love ballad with a crying steel solo, sounding like a great 1990s neo-traditionalist ballad even on the Spanish second verse.

Cowboy imagery is prevalent on the album: horses, being "on the run," Colorado eagles, sleepy border-towns, et cetera. Such imagery is hardly new, but between Martinez' skillful use of the language and the relative lack of cowboy themes in modern music, it feels fresh and intriguing. Minor chords, lonesome fiddles and loud electric guitars are prevalent, maintaining a deep, dark, dusky tone on even the up-tempo songs. All of the songs rely on sharp, detailed lyrics, not once forcing the messages 0r relying on a trite line for the sake of catchiness. There's no way in the world that this album would ever be a commercial success, but even if it just sells a few thousand copies back home, I'm sure J.A. will be satisfied. Because he has made one impressive piece of work. - Ten Pound Hammer - www.roughstock.com

"john Arthur martinez is one of the great Texas singer-songwriters. Having seen him perform as a solo artist and with his band, it's evident that this guy is the real thing."
~Ray Bensen, Asleep at the Wheel

“Give him three minutes and he’ll touch your soul.”
~KVET; Austin, TX

“When he smiles the world has sunshine. When he talks, it’s always from the heart. And when he sings, the soul is nourished.”
~Robert K. Oermann, Music Row Magazine

“Like his college roommate Todd Snider, John Arthur Martinez tends toward the folky side of country-flavored story-songs. Purgatory Road
finds an even keel with the rough highway tales of self-incrimination and loss (“Can’t Outdrink the Truth,” “Utopia”) that are thoughtful without wallowing in hopelessness and despair (“Cobalt Blue,” “Thunder & Lightning”). “Que No Puede Ver” puts him square in the Americano camp, too.”
~Austin Chronicle

"I highly recommend checking him out as there are many country music fans just waiting for a little diversity. It's more country than Latino, but he has crossover appeal to his community and far beyond."
~Felicia Kelly, Album Network, Burbank, CA

"Local musician's song goes from cocktail napkin to Grammy! ~The River Cities Tribune, Marble Falls, TX

"Take a few minutes to download these files (mp3) and you will hear why we were so impressed! This is clearly first-class work, properly recorded." ~John Stewart, Business News Network, Colorado Springs, CO

"Martinez has the songs, the looks, and the smooth-as-flan vocals to be a Latino-Country-crossover next-big-thing."
~Austin Chronicle, Austin, TX

"Give him three minutes and he'll touch your soul!"
~KVET, Austin, TX

"Hearing you (john Arthur martinez) now reminds me of the first time I heard Tish Hinojosa in this same studio."
~John Aielli, KUT Radio, Austin, TX

"Congratulations on winning your local (True Value) Country Showdown. We look forward to seeing you at the state finals."
~Seaworld of Texas, San Antonio

"I watched how john Arthur captivated the listeners and moved the dancers at a private function I attended. I immediately knew I had to write about him."
~Marilyn Chase, Dallas Morning News

"We have john Arthur on a regular rotation his self-produced discs are that good!"
~J.D. Rose, KFAN, Fredericksburg, TX

"This is great stuff"
~WSM-AM, Nashville TN
- Various

Ted Burton
Director of Media Relations
www.EnviroMedia.com
Advertising and PR with a Conscience
1717 W. 6th Street, Suite 400
Austin, Texas 78703
512-476-4368 ext. 306
512-797-8200 mobile
512-476-4392 fax


Water Pollution Radio Spot Earns Top Honor
Texas recording artist John Arthur Martinez sings about protecting drinking water

(AUSTIN) – A radio spot produced by Tuerff-Davis EnviroMedia Inc.for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has earned two Communicator Awards, one of the advertising industry’s highest honors.

The public service announcement (PSA) features nationally-acclaimed country music singer John Arthur Martinez and a powerful message educating Texans about dumping into storm drains common household waste and chemicals, which can contaminate drinking water.

Martinez’s spot, produced in English and Spanish, earned the highest honor for radio production in the competition:

v “Don't Feed the Storm Drain” – Educational PSA, Crystal Award of Excellence
v “Don't Feed the Storm Drain” – Spanish PSA/Foreign Language, Crystal Award of Excellence
The Communicator Awards is an annual independent awards competition founded by communications professionals to recognize outstanding work from around the world. The Communicator Awards2004 audio competition fielded 923 entries.
“I’m honored the spots were recognized as being an effective way to communicate such an important message,” said Martinez, who began achieving national recognition in 2003 when he finished second on the USA Network's national talent competition Nashville Star leading to the the national release of Lone Starry Night on Dualtone Records (distributed by Sony Red). “It was fulfilling to use my passion for music to help protect the environment.”

The spots start with Martinez crooning, “Don’t feed the storm drain, better stop and think. It flows into the rivers, into what our children drink,” and go on to give tips for properly disposing chemicals and protecting storm drains. TCEQ purchased airtime on 15 stations in the Valley and Laredo throughout the summer. The spots were also distributed statewide as PSAs, and about 80 stations have aired the spot more than 5,100 times for free since the campaign began last summer.
“When stations play a PSA because they want to, or because they believe in the message, you know the spot is effective,” said Kevin Tuerff, EnviroMedia president. “Of course, the most important thing is that our message about preventing nonpoint source pollution is reaching more Texans.”

About the Campaign
The radio spots are part of a water pollution prevention campaign specifically targeting residents who cause pollutants such as motor oil and pesticides to wash down storm drains, which lead into creeks, lakes and rivers that serve as sources for drinking water. EnviroMedia and TCEQ brought in Martinez to write and sing English and Spanish for the radio spots.

Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley were chosen as test markets for the program because both areas exceed their Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) of watershed pollutants. The campaign included radio advertisements, community outreach and research, the results of which will serve as a benchmark for future efforts in other TMDL targeted markets: Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and San Antonio.


About EnviroMedia:

Tuerff-Davis EnviroMedia Inc. (www.enviromedia.com <http://www.enviromedia.com/>) is the nation’s only full-service public relations and advertising agency dedicated solely to improving public health and the environment. Current clients include the, Dell Inc., Carpet and Rug Institute, Envision Central Texas, Green Mountain Energy, H-E-B Grocery Co., Hill Country Conservancy, the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation/Seton Healthcare Network, North Texas Clean Air Coalition, Nu-kote, Recycled Computers International, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Department of Transportation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Western Governors’ Association.

###
For more information on TCEQ’s nonpoint source pollution efforts, call 1-800-CLEAN-UP or visit www.tceq.state.tx.us. John Arthur Martinez may be contacted www.johnarthurmartinez.net


- EnviroMedia

Nashville 2004 CMAfest Greased Lightning Riverfront Stages

From Lisa
Sunday's Nashville Concert Review
Due to the rain yesterday. Most of the acts were rescheduled to perform today.

The show started with the ROPE legends show. Preformers were Kyle Cantrell, a radio emcee host, presenting Jeanie Seely. She can sure belt out a song.

Next Moore and Moore are identical twins with a lot to offer. Jim Ed Brown did only one song then asked to be excused so his voice could rest due to throat problems. He promised to do some duets with Helen Cornelius. Helen is just as beautiful as ever. This portion of the show closed with Stonewall Jackson doing his biggest hit "Waterloo".

Next was the "Sunday in the South" show hosted by B. Bubba Bechtol. Up first The Bellemy Brothers. These guys are still great. They had the women worked up and got several pairs of panties thrown on the stage.
Sponsored Links

Nashville $993 nights for $99 Special promotionwww.fairfieldgetaways.com

Nashville StudioFaith Hill, Richard Marx, Journey Great References, Great Rates!www.key-stonestudio.com

Nashville Real EstateReceive HOT new listings FIRST, and search over 20,000 homes online!www.homesbyrobertcreecy.com
Sponsored Links

Nashville $993 nights for $99 Special promotionwww.fairfieldgetaways.com

Nashville StudioFaith Hill, Richard Marx, Journey Great References, Great Rates!www.key-stonestudio.com

Nashville Real EstateReceive HOT new listings FIRST, and search over 20,000 homes online!www.homesbyrobertcreecy.com
Jimmy Fortune was one of the Statler Bros. quartet that is going solo now. He did "Elizabeth" and "More than a Name on the Wall" he got a standing ovation.

BR549 did their bluegrass. They showed their true form. A new act, J. Michael Harter was good. I think we will be hearing a lot from him in the future. Mountain Heart and Sisters Wade, Kylie Harris, and Rhonda Vincent concluded the bluegrass show. If you have never heard Rhonda Vincent, do yourself a favor and see her.

The Jenkins are a mother daughter act in the style of the Judd's. Jedd Hughes is a good looking Australian. He has a style definitely his own. Kellie Coffey and Michelle Poe were both great. John Berry is long overdue for another hit. This guy can sure sing a song and make you feel it.

Doug Stone is still looking good. The crowd roared their approval when he started "I'd be Better off in a Pine Box". Craig Morgan...what can I say about this guy? He's good-looking, talented, and in the military active reserves. He is undeniably one of the greatest talents of Country Music.

John Arthur Martinez was up next. John is one of the undeniably best artists I've seen. He did the title song off his new cd, "Home made of Stone". He closed with "La Bamba". The whole crowd went wild. He had the senior citizens along with the young kids dancing.

Jeffery Steele was set up to perform when the park was closed due to oncoming storms.
Today's show was wonderful. It makes me realize that there is still a long future in country music. The new up and coming acts are worthy of a listen, and the older established acts brought back many cherished memories. It made me appreciate the world of country music all that much more.

Till Next Year,
Marlene - About.com