{{Short description|Jamaican musical artist}} {{about||the singer of Coldplay|Chris Martin}} {{BLP self-published|date=September 2010}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Use British English|date=December 2012}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Christopher Martin | image = ChristopherMartin15.jpg | caption = Christopher Martin in concert at [[Reggae Geel]] 2022 | landscape = yes | image_size = | alias = Chris Martin | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|14 February 1987}} | birth_place = | origin = [[Saint Catherine Parish|St. Catherine]], [[Jamaica]] | genre = [[Reggae]], [[dancehall]], [[reggae fusion]] | years_active = {{Start date|2005}}–present | label = [[VP Records]] | website = }}
'''Christopher Oteng Martin''' (born 14 February 1987) is a [[reggae]]/[[dancehall]] singer and songwriter from [[Saint Catherine Parish|St. Catherine, Jamaica]]. Martin won [[Digicel]]'s ''Rising Stars'' in 2005 (the Jamaican version of ''[[American Idol]]''). He is best known for the songs "Cheaters Prayer", "I'm a Big Deal", "Let Her Go", "Is It Love", and "Dreams of Brighter Days".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaica-star.com/thestar/20100512/ent/ent7.html|title=PROFILE - Christopher Martin|date=2010-05-12|work=The Jamaica Star| accessdate=2010-10-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100516224710/http://jamaica-star.com/thestar/20100512/ent/ent7.html|archive-date=16 May 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Biography== Born in Back Pasture, [[St. Catherine Parish|St. Catherine]], 14 February 1987, to Cleveland and Maxine Martin, Martin attended the Watermount All-Age School<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-02 |title=Chris Martin tiles floors of boyhood school |url=https://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20180802/chris-martin-tiles-floors-boyhood-school |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116083213/https://jamaica-star.com/article/entertainment/20180802/chris-martin-tiles-floors-boyhood-school |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=jamaica-star.com |language=en}}</ref> and later went on to [[St. Jago High School]]. There, he developed a love for dramatic arts and sports. He graduated in 2003.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Kevin |date=2022-11-18 |title=Brazil for the win, says Chris Martin |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/brazil-for-the-win-says-chris-martin/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116083806/https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/brazil-for-the-win-says-chris-martin/ |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Jamaica Observer |language=en-US}}</ref>
Two years later, he won the Digicel ''Rising Stars'' title in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ashman |first=Tamoy |date=2022-07-28 |title=Digicel's 'Rising Stars': Where are they now? - Our Today |url=https://our.today/digicels-rising-stars-where-are-they-now/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240116084522/https://our.today/digicels-rising-stars-where-are-they-now/ |archive-date=January 16, 2024 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=Our Today - |language=pt-BR}}</ref> After this, Martin participated in Digicel's 2005 Christmas promotion. After his debut single "Love Is All We Need," part of the promotional campaign, was released, he became the first Digicel ''Rising Stars'' Alumni to have a hit on the charts in Jamaica.
His releases include: "Nah Go Change", "Take My Wings", "Tonight", "Giving It", and the singles "Jamaican Girls" and "Gallis" featuring [[Busy Signal]]. He has worked with a number of top producers in reggae and dancehall including Robert Livingston (Big Yard), Arif Cooper, Shane Brown(Jukeboxx) and Christopher Birch.
Martin has performed numerous stage shows across Jamaica and was notably invited to perform at One Night with [[Michael Bolton]] and at the 2008 Air Jamaica Jazz Festival. In 2008, Martin was nominated for The Jamaica Observer Teenage Choice Awards and Excellence in Music and Entertainment. The song "Melody to My Song" was released on Good Love Rhythm, produced by Baby G. The song "She Never Listens" featuring [[Demarco (musician)|Demarco]] was produced by Star Kutt, and "Watch Me Lord" was produced by Ariff Cooper and released on the Fresh Ear label. In addition to those, Martin appeared on "Vibe Is Right" on the Street Bullies Medley produced by Tony Kelly as well as "Real Friends" featuring Agent Sassco (formerly [[Assassin (deejay)|Assassin]]) and D-Major, released via T.J Records.
In 2013, Martin signed to [[VP Records]].<ref>{{cite news| last = Misani| first = Nick| date = September 5, 2013| title = Christopher Martin signs with VP Records| newspaper =[[New York Amsterdam News]]| url = http://amsterdamnews.com/news/2013/sep/05/christopher-martin-signs-vp-records/| accessdate = August 14, 2020| quote = Jamaican singer Christopher Martin, the new face at VP Records, is all set to combine music and charisma as he blots the ink of his recently signed deal,}}</ref> In April 2016, he toured Zimbabwe and performed live on stage alongside D'Major and several Zimbabwean singers, including Winky D. This show took place at Glamis Arena in Harare.
== Personal life == Martin was romantically linked with [[Ce'cile|Ce' cile]] from 2010 to 2014 and they are the parents of a daughter, Christiyana, born in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baugh |first=Claudine |date=April 20, 2023 |title=Former Couple Ce'Cile, Christopher Martin Have 'No Expectations' In New Collab |url=https://www.dancehallmag.com/2023/04/20/music/former-couple-cecile-christopher-martin-have-no-expectations-in-new-collab.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420142910/https://www.dancehallmag.com/2023/04/20/music/former-couple-cecile-christopher-martin-have-no-expectations-in-new-collab.html |archive-date=April 20, 2023 |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=DanceHallMag}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2022 |title=WATCH: 10-y-o Christiyana Martin wins silver for Jamaica in gymnastics |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latest-news/watch-10-y-o-daughter-of-cecile-and-chris-martin-wins-silver-for-jamaica-in-gymnastics/ |access-date=November 11, 2023 |website=Jamaica Observer}}</ref>
==Discography== [[File:ChristopherMartin3.jpg|thumb|Christopher Martin in concert at [[Reggae Geel]] 2022]]
=== Albums === * ''Big Deal'' (2017)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/big-deal-mw0003003527|title=Christopher Martin - Big Deal|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref> * ''And Then'' (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/and-then-mw0003256153|title=Christopher Martin - And Then|publisher=AllMusic}}</ref>
=== Extended Playlist (EP) === * ''Steppin Razaor'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldareggae.com/releases/new-albums/reviews/review-christopher-martin-steppin-razor-ep/|title=REVIEW: Christopher Martin - Steppin' Razor EP|date=5 October 2015 |publisher=Worldareggae}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Christopher}} [[Category:1987 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Musicians from Saint Catherine Parish]] [[Category:Jamaican reggae singers]] [[Category:Reggae fusion musicians]] [[Category:VP Records artists]] [[Category:People educated at St. Jago High School]]