Martin Brammer

Martin Brammer
Born (1957-05-13) 13 May 1957 (age 67)
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • composer
  • record producer
Years active1980s–present
Children
  • Salma
  • Ella
Musical career
Genres
InstrumentVocals

Martin Brammer (born 13 May 1957) is an English singer, songwriter, composer and record producer. He is best known as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the pop trio Kane Gang. Brammer later developed his songwriting abilities to pen many successful tracks for a variety of notable musicians.[1]

Brammer has been nominated for an Ivor Novello Award, and has been involved in the making of records that have sold over 20 million copies worldwide.[2][3] He is currently the manager of the British punk rock band Vant.[4]

Career

[edit]

Brammer was born in Seaham, County Durham, England. Part of a trio of local North East musicians, Brammer was a founding member of the Kane Gang, which started in late 1982.[1] Brammer was their main songwriter and penned their smooth ballad "Closest Thing to Heaven", a UK top 20 chart hit in 1984. He also wrote other chart successes for them, including "Smalltown Creed" (1984), "Gun Law" (1985) and "Motortown" (1987).[5][6][7] Kane Gang broke up in 1991.[1]

Brammer then continued his career as a songwriter to the present day. Songs he has written or co-written have been recorded by Tina Turner, James Morrison, Marco Mengoni, Josh Kumra, James Bay, Olly Murs, Nolwenn Leroy, Julian Velard, Melanie C, Urszula, Mr Hudson, Jack McManus, Beverley Knight, Rachel Stevens, Nick Carter, Lighthouse Family, Roland Gift, Sheena Easton, Mark Owen, Reigan Derry, Foxes and Stevie McCrorie.[8] In addition, Brammer has contributed as record producer on various albums including Good Things Come to Those Who Don't Wait (Josh Kumra);[9] Olly Murs[10] and In Case You Didn't Know[11] (Olly Murs); plus Now or Never[12] (Nick Carter).

He also sang backing vocals on a 1994 album by Opus III (Guru Mother).[8][13]

Brammer has his own recording studio in which he both writes and records, and favours using microphones manufactured by sE Electronics.[14] Brammer's most recent work includes writing material for John Newman, Ella Eyre, Joel Compass, Karen Harding and Luke Friend.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

Brammer has an ex-wife, Alia, and two daughters, Salma and Ella.[15] He told BBC Radio 2 that he does not employ a manager.[16]

Songwriting credits

[edit]

Apart from those written for Kane Gang, Brammer's songwriting credits include:

Year Musician Song(s) Album
1991 Sheena Easton "Time Bomb" What Comes Naturally
1995 Lighthouse Family "Lifted"
"Loving Every Minute"
Ocean Drive
1996 Mark Owen "Child"
"Are You With Me"
Green Man
1997 Lighthouse Family "Raincloud" Postcards from Heaven
2002 Roland Gift "Flown" Roland Gift
2002 Nick Carter "My Confession"
"Is It Saturday Yet?"
Now or Never
2003 Rachel Stevens "Funky Dory" Funky Dory
2004 Tina Turner "Open Arms" All the Best
2007 Beverley Knight "Everytime You See Me Smile"
"Why Me, Why You, Why Now"
"Tell Me I'm Wrong"
"Trade It Up"
Music City Soul
2007 James Morrison "Undiscovered"
"The Pieces Don't Fit Anymore"
Undiscovered
2008 Jack McManus "Bang on the Piano"
"You Can Make It Happen"
"She's Gone"
Either Side of Midnight
2008 James Morrison "If You Don't Wanna Love Me"
"Fix the World Up for You"
" "Love Is Hard"
Songs for You, Truths for Me
2009 Mr Hudson "Stiff Upper Lip" Straight No Chaser
2010 Urszula "Skacze Na Dach" Dziś już wiem
2010 Olly Murs "Busy"
"I Blame Hollywood"
Olly Murs
2011 Olly Murs "Oh My Goodness"
"I've Tried Everything"
"I Need You Now"
In Case You Didn't Know
2011 Julian Velard ""Love Again for the First Time" Mr. Saturday Night
2011 James Morrison "I Won't Let You Go"
"6 Weeks"
"Say Something Now"
"Beautiful Life"
The Awakening
2011 Melanie C "Stupid Game" The Sea
2012 Nolwenn Leroy "Limitless" Ô Filles de l'Eau
2013 Josh Kumra "The Answer"
"Reckless Love"
"Keep on Walking"
"Lost Again"
Good Things Come to Those Who Don't Wait
2013 James Bay "Clocks Go Forward" The Dark of the Morning (EP)
2013 Marco Mengoni "Evitiamoci (La Soluzione)" prontoacorrere
2013 Sarah & Pietro "Slow Lightning" Dream Team
2014 Reigan Derry "All of the Pieces" All of the Pieces (EP)
2015 James Morrison "Reach Out"
"Just Like a Child"
Higher Than Here
2016 Foxes "Amazing" All I Need
2016 Ronan Keating "Time of My Life" Time of My Life
2016 Bobby Bazini "Summer Is Gone" Summer Is Gone
2016 The Shires "My Universe" My Universe
2016 Stevie McCrorie "Take Our Time" Big World
2018 Maty Noyes "Perspective" Love Songs from a Lolita
2019 Zucchero Fornaciari "Freedom"
"My Freedom"
D.O.C.
2019 James Morrison "Ruins" You're Stronger Than You Know

[8][17][18]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Kane Gang | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Martin Brammer - London, United Kingdom". About.me. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Imagem Music :: Artist (UK)". Us.imagem-music.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  4. ^ Brammer, Martin. "Martin Brammer on about.me". About.me. Retrieved 22 September 2017.
  5. ^ "The Miracle of the Kane Gang - Kane Gang | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  6. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 296. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  7. ^ "Kane Gang | Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  8. ^ a b c "Martin Brammer | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Good Things Come to Those Who Don't Wait - Josh Kumra | Credits". AllMusic. 22 April 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  10. ^ "Olly Murs - Olly Murs | Credits". AllMusic. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  11. ^ "In Case You Didn't Know - Olly Murs | Credits". AllMusic. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  12. ^ "Now or Never - Nick Carter | Credits". AllMusic. 29 October 2002. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Guru Mother - Opus III | Credits". AllMusic. 21 June 1994. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Multi platinum songwriter Martin Brammer chooses sE Microphones". Musiciansnews.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Martin Brammer @MartinBrammer". Klear.com. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  16. ^ "Radio 2 - Sold on Song - Songwriting Guides - Management". BBC. 25 August 2006. Retrieved 17 January 2016.
  17. ^ "Martin Brammer Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  18. ^ "Martin Brammer | Hamada Mania Music Blog". Hamadamania.com. 17 December 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2016.