Saxa (musician)
Saxa | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Saxa |
| Born | Lional Augustus Martin 5 January 1930 Croft's Hill, Jamaica |
| Died | 3 May 2017 (aged 87) |
| Genres | Ska, reggae, 2-tone |
| Instrument | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1950s–2004 |
| Formerly of | The Beat |
Lionel Augustus "Saxa" Martin[1][2][3] (5 January 1930 – 3 May 2017[4]) was a Jamaican saxophonist, best known for being a member of The Beat.
Early life
Lionel Augustus Martin was born at Croft's Hill, Jamaica he originally played on a homemade bamboo saxophone, but later switched to the drums.[1][5] He moved to Kingston, where he played saxophone in Spanish Town under the names Ganzi and Count Moody.[1] While in Kingston, he learned the tenor saxophone and recorded with Tommy McCook and Roland Alphonso.[1]
Move to England
He moved to England in 1960, spending eighteen months in London and then moved to Birmingham.[1] He split the bill with The Beatles at The Continental club in Soho.[1] Saxa also played saxophone for Prince Buster, Laurel Aitken, and Desmond Dekker.[6][7]
The Beat
Martin joined The Beat in 1978 to help them record their first single, a cover of "The Tears of a Clown" by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, in 1980.[6] He initially joined as a session musician,[2] but soon became a full-time member. Saxa was a generation older than the rest of the band.[1]
Rolling Stone described his saxophone playing on the Beat's I Just Can't Stop It album: "a rambunctious cluster of singles held together by tenor saxophonist Saxa's winning, authoritative blowing and a rhythm section...that cared more about adventure than duplicating antique reggae."[2]
Saxa retired from touring in 1982 due to poor health, and his live replacement was Wesley Magoogan.[2] The Beat disbanded in 1983.
Later career
After touring with Tony Beet in 1990, Saxa, Beet and The Beat drummer Everett Morton formed International Beat, who recorded an album and toured until 1995.[1][8][3][9]
Death
After the death of his wife in 2004, Saxa started drinking heavily and disappeared for long spans of times, ande fake reports of his death spread among radio stations.[1]
Saxa had three children, one who lives in Jamaica, and two who he had in England with Peggy.[1] Saxa passed away in his sleep on 3 May 2017, aged 87.[1][10][11]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Wilmer, Val (2017-05-12). "Saxa obituary". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- 1 2 3 4 Bass, Marco On The (2017-05-04). "Marco On The Bass: In Memory Of Lionel Augustus Martin: The Man Known As Saxa". Marco On The Bass. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- 1 2 "Former Birmingham Beat musician dies aged 87". Express and Star. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- ↑ "MUSIC MATTERS: Celebrating Saxa". Coventry Observer. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- ↑ Fred (2024-01-05). "Lionel 'Saxa' Martin: The Beat of Ska's Heart - The World of Sax". theworldofsax.com. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- 1 2 The Great Rock Discography - Martin C. Strong 2000 - pages 63-64
- ↑ Eyeballs, Slicing Up (2017-05-04). "Saxa, The English Beat's saxophonist and Jamaican-born ska player, 1930-2017". Slicing Up Eyeballs. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ↑ Bass, Marco On The (2008-08-12). "Marco On The Bass: Exclusive: Interview with Tony Beet of The International Beat". Marco On The Bass. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- ↑ Vierra, Erin (2017-05-04). "RIP: Saxa of The English Beat Dead at 87 -". mxdwn Music. Retrieved 2026-05-01.
- ↑ Lusso, Fabrizio (2017-05-06). "Legendary The Beat's Jamaican saxophone maestro Saxa passed away". Last Day Deaf. Retrieved 2026-04-30.
- ↑ Filcman, Debra FilcmanDebra (2017-05-04). "Saxa, English Beat Saxophonist, Dies". Diffuser.fm. Retrieved 2026-04-30.