Album Notes

Birdie is the debut recording for Martin & Johnson - a trio of seasoned old-time musicians. This CD features thirteen songs and three instrumentals across a diverse repertoire including old-time breakdowns, gospel, blues, and comedy songs. Martin & Johnson is the combined talents of Wayne Martin (/vocal, fiddle, banjo, guitar/), Margaret Martin (/vocal, banjo, guitar/), and Craig Johnson (/vocal, fiddle, banjo, guitar/). They have gathered forces for this delightful new CD that will be sure to have you laughing, dancing, and singing along.

Wayne Martin spent his early childhood in Dunwoody, Georgia where he would hear family members sing shape-note hymns and occasionally play a fiddle or guitar. After moving to North Carolina, he locked on to fiddle and banjo music and began learning from traditional musicians in the mountains, piedmont and coastal regions. In addition to performing music for more than thirty years, he has produced numerous recordings of traditional musicians including Etta Baker, Bascom Lamar Lunsford, Lauchlin Shaw and A.C. Overton, and Joe and Odell Thompson.

Craig Johnson began his performing career in college coffeehouses. A modern-day songster, he has absorbed hundreds of old songs ranging from British ballads to early twentieth century Tin Pan Alley hits. Craig is also a highly respected fiddler, banjo player and guitarist who learned directly from master musicians such as Kahle Brewer and Clyde Davenport. Craig is also a long-time member of the Washington, D.C.-based Double Decker Stringband.

Margaret Martin learned church and pop music from her older brothers in their piedmont North Carolina home. She saw the light in junior high, attempted the 5-string banjo and settled in as a rhythm player and vocal harmonizer in various bands, including the Hash House Harvey Swing Band, which included members of the Tobacco Tags and the Swingbillies. A five-year stint as head of the Folk Arts in N.C. Schools program allowed her to learn from some of the best elder fiddlers, banjo players, and blues musicians in the state.