Vince Martell
Encyclopedia
Vince Martell is best known as the lead guitarist for Vanilla Fudge
.
Martell was born in the Bronx
to parents who played the guitar and encouraged him to play as well. While in his teens, Martell joined the Navy, where he discovered his skills as a guitarist.
In 1963, Martell moved with his family to Florida
and soon joined a band called Ricky T & The Satans Three that played in Miami blues clubs and shrimp bars in Key West. In 1966, he formed the band The Pidgeons with organist Mark Stein
, bassist Tim Bogert
and drummer Joe Brennan. After Brennan was replaced by Carmine Appice
and a record deal forced the band to change its name, the band became Vanilla Fudge.
After the breakup of Vanilla Fudge in 1970, Martell continued to perform until Vanilla Fudge reunited for another album in 1984 called Mystery. In 2000, he released his first solo CD, Endless High, followed in 2001 by a self-titled CD, Vince Martell. In 2002, he recorded a third solo CD as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix
, whom Martell had befriended when Vanilla Fudge and Hendrix toured together.
In 2005, Vanilla Fudge reformed with all the original members including Martell, Mark Stein
, Tim Bogert
and Carmine Appice
, for a tour with The Doors
and Steppenwolf
. In July, 2006, Vanilla Fudge recorded a tribute to Led Zeppelin
, working title Out Through the In Door, scheduled for release in early 2007. Martell continues to tour with Vanilla Fudge, and his own band, the Vince Martell Band with Peg Pearl (keyboards/vocals), Pete Bremy (Bass/vocals), and Russ T. Blades (drums).
Martell is preparing for a 2008 spring/summer tour (with his own band) sharing some dates with The Shadows Of Knight, with whom he has performed with at Irving Plaza (along with Mark Stein). A new CD is also in the works.
Vince along with Tim Bogert, Mark Stein and Carmine Appice opened for Deep Purple
(at the band's request) on Aug 7 2007 @ Radio City Music Hall. Vanilla Fudge, with all original members toured in early 2008.
Vince and Mark Stein appeared on The "My Music" series on PBS in March/April 2008. They are seen performing "You Keep Me Hangin' On" with backing musicians from Mark Stein's solo band. Vince and Mark Stein are now performing around the country together as "Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein and Vince Martell" with a new rhythm section featuring JimmyJack Tamburo from Mark Stein's band on drums, and Pete Bremy from Vince's band on bass.
In April 2008 Vince Martell signed with Collectables Records as a solo artist.
In 2009 Vince Martell released "Endless High" on Spectra Records
.
"Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein and Vince Martell" is touring in summer 2009.
Vanilla Fudge
Vanilla Fudge is an American rock band. The band's original lineup – vocalist/organist Mark Stein, bassist/vocalist Tim Bogert, lead guitarist/vocalist Vince Martell, and drummer/vocalist Carmine Appice – recorded five albums during the years 1966–69, before disbanding in 1970...
.
Martell was born in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
to parents who played the guitar and encouraged him to play as well. While in his teens, Martell joined the Navy, where he discovered his skills as a guitarist.
In 1963, Martell moved with his family to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and soon joined a band called Ricky T & The Satans Three that played in Miami blues clubs and shrimp bars in Key West. In 1966, he formed the band The Pidgeons with organist Mark Stein
Mark Stein (musician)
Mark Stein was the vocalist, keyboardist, composer, and arranger for Vanilla Fudge, the Tommy Bolin band, and Alice Cooper's band .- Early life and influences :...
, bassist Tim Bogert
Tim Bogert
John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III is an American musician. He graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in his hometown in 1963...
and drummer Joe Brennan. After Brennan was replaced by Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer of Italian background and is the older brother of drummer Vinny Appice by 12 years. He received a classical music training and was influenced by the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa early on...
and a record deal forced the band to change its name, the band became Vanilla Fudge.
After the breakup of Vanilla Fudge in 1970, Martell continued to perform until Vanilla Fudge reunited for another album in 1984 called Mystery. In 2000, he released his first solo CD, Endless High, followed in 2001 by a self-titled CD, Vince Martell. In 2002, he recorded a third solo CD as a tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, whom Martell had befriended when Vanilla Fudge and Hendrix toured together.
In 2005, Vanilla Fudge reformed with all the original members including Martell, Mark Stein
Mark Stein
Earl Mark Sean Stein , known as Mark Stein, is a South African-born English former footballer who played for numerous English clubs as a striker...
, Tim Bogert
Tim Bogert
John Voorhis "Tim" Bogert III is an American musician. He graduated from Ridgefield Memorial High School in his hometown in 1963...
and Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice
Carmine Appice is an American rock drummer of Italian background and is the older brother of drummer Vinny Appice by 12 years. He received a classical music training and was influenced by the jazz drumming of Buddy Rich and Gene Krupa early on...
, for a tour with The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
and Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf (band)
Steppenwolf are a Canadian-American rock group that was prominent in the late 1960s. The group was formed in 1967 in Los Angeles by vocalist John Kay, guitarist Michael Monarch, bassist Rushton Moreve, keyboardist Goldy McJohn and drummer Jerry Edmonton after the dissolution of Toronto group The...
. In July, 2006, Vanilla Fudge recorded a tribute to Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, working title Out Through the In Door, scheduled for release in early 2007. Martell continues to tour with Vanilla Fudge, and his own band, the Vince Martell Band with Peg Pearl (keyboards/vocals), Pete Bremy (Bass/vocals), and Russ T. Blades (drums).
Martell is preparing for a 2008 spring/summer tour (with his own band) sharing some dates with The Shadows Of Knight, with whom he has performed with at Irving Plaza (along with Mark Stein). A new CD is also in the works.
Vince along with Tim Bogert, Mark Stein and Carmine Appice opened for Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
(at the band's request) on Aug 7 2007 @ Radio City Music Hall. Vanilla Fudge, with all original members toured in early 2008.
Vince and Mark Stein appeared on The "My Music" series on PBS in March/April 2008. They are seen performing "You Keep Me Hangin' On" with backing musicians from Mark Stein's solo band. Vince and Mark Stein are now performing around the country together as "Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein and Vince Martell" with a new rhythm section featuring JimmyJack Tamburo from Mark Stein's band on drums, and Pete Bremy from Vince's band on bass.
In April 2008 Vince Martell signed with Collectables Records as a solo artist.
In 2009 Vince Martell released "Endless High" on Spectra Records
Spectra Records
The Spectra Music Group is a United States music company founded in February 1997 comprising the independent record company Spectra Records—which is based in the United States and Canada.-Labels and projects:...
.
"Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein and Vince Martell" is touring in summer 2009.
Discography
- 1967: Vanilla FudgeVanilla Fudge (album)Allmusic's Paul Collins rated Vanilla Fudge four out of five stars. He stated that "nobody could accuse Vanilla Fudge of bad taste in their repertoire" and that most of the tracks "share a common structure of a disjointed warm-up jam, a Hammond-heavy dirge of harmonized vocals at the center, and a...
- 1968: The Beat Goes On
- 1968: Renaissance
- 1969: Near the BeginningNear the BeginningNear The Beginning is the fourth album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. It was released early 1969 and featured a cover of the Jr...
- 1970: Rock & RollRock & Roll (Vanilla Fudge album)Rock & Roll is the fifth album by the American psychedelic rock band Vanilla Fudge. It was released in September 1969, and peaked on the Billboard album charts at #34 in October of that year...
- 1984: Mystery
- 2000: Endless High
- 2000: Vanilla Fudge - The Return / Then And NowThe Return / Then and Now (album)The Return is the seventh album by the rock band Vanilla Fudge, it was released in 2002. It featured new versions of songs from throughout their career...
- 2001: Vince Martell: Lead Guitarist of Vanilla Fudge
- 2002: Pyschedlic Cymbals
- 2005: Vanilla Fudge - Out Through The In DoorOut Through the in DoorOut Through the In Door is the eighth album from Vanilla Fudge. It was released in June 2007, with the US finally following in August 2009....
- 2009: Vince Martell - Comin'to Get Ya