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22 Facts About Martin Armiger

1.

John Martin Armiger was an Australian musician, record producer and composer.

2.

Martin Armiger notably co-produced "Dumb Things" for Paul Kelly and the Coloured Girls, with Kelly, on the Young Einstein soundtrack.

3.

Martin Armiger was Head of Screen Composition at the Australian Film Television and Radio School.

4.

John Martin Armiger was born on 10 June 1949 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire.

5.

Martin Armiger studied at Flinders University in Adelaide where he completed his Bachelor of Arts course in 1974.

6.

In 1975 Martin Armiger moved to Melbourne and started with local bands.

7.

Martin Armiger soon joined The Toads on lead guitar and backing vocals with Andrew Bell on bass guitar; Randy Bulpin on lead guitar; Jane Clifton on lead vocals; Eric Gradman on violin; Jenny Keath on backing vocals; Buzz Leeson, and Eddie van Rosendaal on drums.

8.

Also in 1975 Martin Armiger composed music for A Night in Rio, a stage musical at Melbourne's Pram Factory.

9.

Martin Armiger wrote the title track and theme, and, as a member of Toads, performed on the soundtrack.

10.

The band appeared at local venues, including The Kingston Hotel, and The Tiger Lounge, where Martin Armiger played a white Fender Stratocaster.

11.

Luis Feliu of The Canberra Times described Bates: "[he] shows an authentic feel for the early strains of rock and roll", whereas Martin Armiger "brings with him a more electric sound".

12.

The Sports broke up late in 1981 and Cummings went on to a solo career, while Martin Armiger turned to record producing and session work.

13.

Martin Armiger was musical director for the series and provided backing vocals, lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards, drums and lyrics.

14.

In May 1985 Martin Armiger won Producer of the Year at the annual Countdown Music and Video Awards of 1984.

15.

Martin Armiger produced a studio cast album of Illusion and History of Australia's original cast recording.

16.

In 1987 Martin Armiger composed music for another ABC TV series, Stringer, and in April 1988, he produced a related album, You've Always Got the Blues, released by its singers, Kate Ceberano and Wendy Matthews, which included his song writing effort, "Stringer".

17.

Martin Armiger composed the score, with William Motzing, for Young Einstein, a film by Yahoo Serious.

18.

Martin Armiger provided the inspiration for the Screen Music Awards established by the Australian Guild of Screen Composers in 1992.

19.

Martin Armiger wrote the theme of Cody, a six-part TV drama series for Seven Network.

20.

The Sports reformed for the Mushroom 25 Live anniversary concert on 14 November 1998, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but Martin Armiger was unable to perform due to a previously broken leg turning gangrenous.

21.

Martin Armiger composed the news theme for the ABC which has been in use on ABC1 since early 2005.

22.

Martin Armiger stated that the riff had the same melody as "Kookaburra" but gave a different impression in "Down Under" and that it was debatable whether it was the song's hook.