Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)

Subject: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: Folkiedave
Date: 18 May 11 - 05:13 AM

RIP died in Bulgaria of a heart attack. RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 18 May 11 - 05:52 AM

This was a real shock. I didn't know he had been ill.

For those that don't know, here is a bit of a potted history - I'm sure others will fill in the gaps.

I first met Martin in around 1968 when visiting the Village Pump Folk Club in Coventry, when he was an occasional member of the Magic Rantabout Band.
I moved to Cov in 1970 by which time he was with Dando Shaft along with Kev Dempsey, Dave Cooper, Ted Kay, Roger Bullen and Polly Bolton. A band which achieved legendary status but never the commercial success they undoubtedly deserved.
In the early 70s he joined up with what was probably the best line-up of Hedgehog Pie.
After that came some years of touring with Bert Jansch and a bit of solo work, as well as the local Cov Band Quiet Riot.
Then in 1983 he teamed up with Dave Swarbrick, Kevin Dempsey and Chris Leslie to form the mighty Whippersnapper. They toured well into the 90s.
Martin then met the great Kalinka Vulcheva when touring in Bulgaria, and they later went on to marry. After some years living in Coventry, they eventually moved back to Bulgaria where he has been living ever since.
Great days, great music and some wonderful memories. Mart was a truly innovative musician and, I know everybody always says it, but he really will be sorely missed. He leaves a legacy of some wonderful music in all those bands.
I am sure thoughts go out to the other Dandos as well as Kalinka, Ray, Becky and the rest of the family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: nickp
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:06 AM

Such a shame, he will be greatly missed.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: SunrayFC
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:18 AM

I loved his playing. A sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:43 AM

saw him do a nice gig in the 1970's at that very nice folk club that was running at the time - upstairs at Nuneaton Arts centre. I remember sometime before, Rob Armstrong saying to me that he thought Martin had been very shabbily treated by the record company at the time of Dando Shaft.

I didn't know the guy, but he could see i was heavily (and very unfashionably) trying to assimilate American country music into my set at the time. so he winked at me from the stage and said - one for you! and played, Blue eyes crying in the rain - he slipped on a chord (as he was obviously shooting from the hip) and sad 'Sorry 'bout that Willy!'

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: Arnie
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:51 AM

Only saw Whippersnapper the once, at High Wycombe folk club. I remember Martin was playing some sort of lute or mandolin. Anyway, I bought their LP and Martin plus the rest of the band were happy to sign it. He seemed a really nice bloke and an excellent musician - what a shame he's been taken from us.....

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Guest - Jim Younger
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:48 AM

Sorry to here the news of Martin's death. I met him in the Decca studios up in West Hampstead when we were playing sessions on the same day (for different artists) - about 1971 ... long time ago. I wandered into his session and watched him like a hawk!
@Arnie - that might have been a mandocello he played when you saw him, although he was a tasty mandolin player (and the rest!)

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Dom
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:42 AM

saw him with whippersnapper a couple of times.First time was wath festival circa 1988.Blew me away, great player,fantastic chemistry in the band...

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Brenda
Date: 18 May 11 - 10:49 AM

What a shock. I knew him through Dave of course and spent a few good evenings music together.

My thoughts go out to Ray and Kalinka.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: Dave Sutherland
Date: 18 May 11 - 12:13 PM

Met him a time or two when he was with Hedgehog Pie - very sorry to hear this.

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,David E.
Date: 18 May 11 - 12:25 PM

So sorry to hear this sad news. I spoke with Martin a few times when he would come over to the States with Bert. Always seemed like a real nice fellow with a good sense of humor, someone who would be easy to travel with. So sorry for family and friends.

David E.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 18 May 11 - 12:43 PM

God, that's bad news! Loved his playing. I first saw Martin at Les Cousins with Dando Shaft a million years ago.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,Ted Crum (Steamchicken)
Date: 18 May 11 - 02:16 PM

Sad sad news. All us Coventry musos will mourn the passing of a great player.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: GUEST,warren fahey
Date: 18 May 11 - 05:48 PM

Sad to read this. I brought Bert Jansch and Martin out to Australia in the early 1980s to perform at the Sydney Opera House and my annual Larrikin Folklife Festival - he was a true delight.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 18 May 11 - 08:02 PM

Very sorry to hear this news. I saw him with Bert at the Cellar Door in Washington D.C. back in the late 70's, he was the standout that night with some tasteful playing.

Sad news indeed.

Bob Hitchcock.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 11 - 10:48 AM

A page of condolences has been set up for Martin - follow the link http://dandoshaft.com/shaft/?page_id=104

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: GUEST,Graeme Harvey
Date: 19 May 11 - 05:45 PM

My recollections of Martin are few but memorable. He made what for me is one of the finest albums ever: Carry Your Smile and it still improves every time I play it. Fortunately, I got to meet him one night at the Red Lion Folk Club in Birmingham (in the post-Dave Swarbrick Whippersnapper days) and got to tell him just how much the album meant to me. He was a real gent and was pleased to talk about what was an ageing work of his even then. An outstanding musician and totally unique. A sad loss. Condolences to his family.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: GUEST,Becky Leest
Date: 05 Jun 11 - 03:20 PM

Saw him play in Falmouth. I was with his daughter, who was over the moon to see her dad playing. I was also with a pal, Paul Maddock who passed away over a year ago. The last song that they played had the sweet strains of sea birds calling, growing further and further away, and we transcended into Heaven as it was so beautiful. I will never forget that moment. Thank you Martin.

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: Vin2
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 08:48 AM

Very sad to here. Loved to here Martin's playing/singing especially with Dando Shaft, a great band who i first saw in Manchester (MSG i think).

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: banjoman
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 09:55 AM

Maggie remembers Martin back in the 1960's in Coventry. He was the first person to give her guitar lessons. Sends condolences to his family. He will be sadly missed.
Pete & Maggie (

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: Edthefolkie
Date: 06 Jun 11 - 02:55 PM

Here's Martin singing "Downtown Rodeo" with Whippersnapper a couple of years ago. What an excellent evening that was, and how sad that Martin's passed on.

(Thanks to Pete Gray who organised the gig)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-q5OJssdBc&feature=related

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: GUEST,John James
Date: 17 Oct 11 - 10:39 AM

With Bert Jansch passing away and the resulting publicity , attention has again been drawn to Martin's death in May. I toured the US with the two of them and Martin was indeed THE musicain who held the arrangements together. Martin Jenkins's musical ability should not be underestimated or forgotten.
JJ

Subject: RE: Obit: Martin Jenkins (UK folkie)(May 2011)
From: GUEST,Ken Nickless
Date: 11 Jan 23 - 11:09 AM

Martin, along with Colin Bagley, Tony Dixon and myself were the “Invaders”, a Solihull group in the sixties, playing in and around Solihull, Birmingham and Coventry. Martin was a hugely talented musician and a great friend.