Information/Write-up
May, 2010:
The Folklords were a Toronto, Ontario band who released one of the most sought after folk psych LP's "Release the Sunshine" on Allied Records No. 11 in 1968. The band consisted of Martha Johnson (not the same Martha Johnson of Martha and the Muffins), Tom Martin, and Craig Boswell. In May, 2010, I spoke briefly with Paul Seip and Tom Martin when they first joined citizenfreak.com. They sent a bunch of photos and music.
The Folklords toured, "but didn't get much support from Allied". They appeared on a few TV shows, "but it wasn't an easy time in Canada in those days", Tom writes. He continued "We split the group in late '69 and that is when I started a solo career before forming some different groups of which I will tell you more about later. The response The Folklords have had over the past 10 years is just astounding I get mail from around the world and quite a bit of airplay on college radio"
Tom Martin has never stopped writing and touring. He has had fun writing for other folks as well as producing other artists. He hosted a local cable music show in the late 80's early 90's called "Perth County Music Scene", which was a half hour weekly show with musical guests going through the Toronto area. Tom starred as Jesus in "Jesus Christ Superstar" in two different productions in 1987 and 1993. He also did some Jingle writing and taught for 7 years. Tom is finishing up a new solo project tentatively entitled "Is Anybody Listening".
Tom also recorded songs with the band Cookin' and Mackenzie; one song from each are available for free on this website.
Paul Seip recorded a CD containing 6 tracks entitled “Of Times & Tears” on P&D Music Inc. That CD was recorded on an old cassette machine in 2009 and features a rather primitive recording of Paul singing and playing his acoustic guitar.
-Robert Williston
Paul Seip: guitar, vocals
Martha Johnson: autoharp, vocals
Tom Martin: bass, vocals
Craig Boswell: drums
Produced by Bill Bessey and Jack Boswell
Photography by Jack Umpleby
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