< >Lawrence Martin
Lawrence Martin is a walking legend, his landmark first CD Wapistan is Lawrence Martin was the first ever winner of Best Of Aboriginal Music Canada Juno Award.
Since then Lawrence has released another two albums, and now he is back with Dancing For Life. Dancing for Life details Lawrences journey through the Sundance ceremony. The strength he found, the tears he cried and the songs he sang.
The Strength I gained from these ceremonies allows me to share very intimate moments of my life of shame, hurt, blame and sadness. I finally have found the good life, with my moments with god along each step on the red road of life.
Lawrence grew up in a small village called Moose River Crossing with his Mom, Sister and Grandparents. As in the Cree traditional communities, the whole village became his extended family. One of his aunts, Abba, recognized his talent for music at an early age; she bought him an acoustic guitar and taught him to play. Once he learned how to strum three chords, he began to write songs. He was around 12 years old at the time.
At the age of fourteen, he had to leave his village and family to attend high school in the far away city of North Bay. This was his first trip out of Moose River and first time on his own. With the guitar and a packsack of clothes, he reluctantly boarded the train one early September morning.
The new world in North Bay brought Lawrence more exposure to music. There he found new friends who played musical instruments and together they formed a band and a friendship that would last forever. Throughout Lawrences musical career, Vern Cheechoo has always been there. They recorded together, played in various venues across the country and wrote many songs during their travels and gatherings.
The life of Lawrence has been blessed with many careers, places to live, family and spirit. Learning from mistakes, from elders and from the world at large. Lawrence is continuing on with his honoring of life with the teaching from ceremonies. He is thankful for all the people who have come across his path, both in his work, and in the world of music. Each one played a role to allow him another good day to reflect on. He hopes you will enjoy Dancing For Life.
Ancestry: First Nations
Genre: Country
Albums
