Biography

Born Lionel Augustus Martin, 5th January 1930, Croftshill Clarendon Jamacia, spent most of his late teens and early twenties in Kingston. A regular dance hall attendee. However, it was way before his time spent in kingston dance halls that his love of music ( ska, rhythm & blues, soca and reggae), begin, as young boy starting with a fife made from bamboo, double bass, drums and then came the saxophone the final choice C melody tenor sax. Arriving in England in 1962, his love of music saw him play in many pubs and clubs in and around Birmingham. This is where he would be discovered in his beloved Crompton arms. Originally only ask to play on the 2 tone track Tears of a Clown. but later became a fully fledged member of the band. Saxa, also went on to play with General Public, fine young cannibals and the international beat...

Saxa’s Top Five  Beat songs

1 Tears of a clown  

2 Mirror in the bathroom 

3 All out to get you 

4 Hands off she mine  

5 Can’t get used to losing you

 

SAXA’s influencers -Sonny Rollins, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Ace Cannon and  Roland Alphonso being his ultimate hero..   

"WELL, YOU HAVE TO TAKE WHAT LIFE THROWS AT YOU! FOR THE GOOD AND FOR THE BAD, THATS RIGHT THE ALMIGHTY HE KNOWS, WHATS FOR YOU CAN'T PASS YOU"

SAXA 1930-2017