Stars to join Martyn tribute

A HOST of music stars including Paolo Nutini, Snow Patrol and the Verve have signed up to record a tribute album to legendary Scots musician John Martyn.

Several chart-topping acts will perform their own versions of tracks by the singer-songwriter, who died aged 60 last year.

Robert Smith, the frontman of the Cure, American singer Beck and solo artists David Gray and Beth Orton are among the other musicians who will appear on the record.

Paisley singer Nutini will perform the Martyn song One World, which he has sung at several of his gigs on his current tour.

The 23-year-old has described Martyn as his hero and immediately agreed to take part after being contacted by the late singer's representatives.

Martyn was a hugely talented guitar player and songwriter. Artists as varied as Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd's Dave Gilmour were major fans.

Born in London to Scots parents, he was brought up on Glasgow's south side and went to Shawlands Academy.

He learned to play guitar during the folk boom of the 1960s and his mentor was the wild man of Scots folk, Hamish Imlach. Early in his career, he moved to live near Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix in Woodstock in New York state.

A spokesman for Martyn's family said: "Work is well underway on a tribute album that will feature many well known artists singing their own interpretations of John's songs."