Martin Simpson is one of the world's premiere acoustic guitarists and a powerful songwriter with a rich, charactered voice. His playing, which in part defined the English steel string acoustic guitar sound, is idiosyncratic, instantly recognisable, and revered among guitar fans. His body of work is very diverse encompassing all types of traditional and acoustic music, and he has toured with everyone from June Tabor to Steve Miller.
In 1976 he recorded his first solo album Golden Vanity.
In 1985 Martin married Jessica Ratcliffe, an American singer-songwriter and poet with whom he recorded few albums.