Biography
Marty Sammon is an American Blues keyboardist who is recognized for his energetic performances, improvisation and mastery of traditional styles (Ragtime Blues, Roots and Funk). Sammon has established himself as an ambassador of Chicago Blues appearing on several commercially distributed DVDs, television shows (US and in Europe), and Grammy Award winning albums. His book, Blues Keyboard Method, with a foreword by Chuck Leavell, of the Rolling Stones, was published by Hal Leonard in 2015.
Born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, in a family with Irish heritage, Sammon began learning to play the piano as a young child. He learned traditional Irish folk songs by ear while listening to records with his father, Martin Sammon Sr., a Chicago police officer. His parents realized that their son was a prodigy son with an ear for music and encouraged him to take piano lessons. He enjoyed the experience but also developed his musical ear by listening to many styles of music. He competed in contests, including the World Championship Old-Time Piano Players (winning championships in 1994 and 1995).
At the age of 15, he began playing on the Chicago Blues scene with the South Side guitarist L.V. Banks. He was under age and was driven to venues by his father, but he absorbed the sound and language of Chicago Blues.
Sammon began receiving calls to play with many Chicago artists, including Phil Guy. He performed and toured with Guy and other Blues musicians for years, while also performing headlining gigs, including a tour in Latvia. The turning point of his career came when he played with Phil Guy at the original Checkerboard Lounge during the weekend of the Chicago Blues Festival.
After five years with Otis Rush, in which he played on Rush’s 2003 DVD, Live Part One, and on Martin Scorsese Presents the Blues: A Musical Journey (which won Grammy Awards for Best Historical Album and Best Album Notes) – Godfathers and Sons, Sammon got a call that changed his future. “It was late night and I was home when the phone rang. I didn’t know the number so I ignored it. My brother Mike convinced me to answer saying that ‘that could be THE call!’ It was Phil Guy saying that I had the Buddy gig and, by the way, Y’all leave Thursday. I’ll be forever grateful to Phil and to my bro for that!”
For over a decade, Sammon has been performing worldwide with Buddy Guy and as an opening act with his own ensemble, Marty Sammon Band. He contributed to Guy’s sixth Grammy Award–winning album, Living Proof. He has also recorded numerous releases under his own name. As an ambassador of Chicago Blues, Sammon also performs at schools and universities to promote the Blues and music career development education.