Information/Write-up
Marty Simon (born 1948, Montreal, Quebec) is a Canadian drummer, songwriter, producer, and film/television composer whose career bridges the worlds of classic rock, international pop, and screen music.
Raised in Montreal, Simon displayed early musical talent, playing piano by ear before pursuing formal studies at McGill University’s Faculty of Music. By the mid-1960s he was immersed in the city’s vibrant scene, leading the band The Scene, which cut the single “Scenes (From Another World)” for B.T. Puppy Records in 1967. A few years later he fronted the Canadian rock group Life, scoring a national Top 20 hit with “Hands of the Clock” (1969) and releasing a striking cover of “Strawberry Fields Forever.”
Like many ambitious Canadian musicians of the era, Simon set his sights overseas. He moved to London in the early 1970s, where he co-founded Sharks with Andy Fraser (ex-Free) and guitarist Chris Spedding. Their two albums for Island Records positioned Simon in the thick of Britain’s hard rock scene. Around the same time he also played with Mylon LeFevre’s Holy Smoke Band and contributed drums and percussion to Brian Eno’s landmark debut, Here Come the Warm Jets (1974). His reputation as a versatile drummer opened doors to sessions with the likes of Mick Jagger, Jimmy Page, and Jimi Hendrix, encounters that underscored his adaptability across genres.
Returning to Canada, Simon extended his skills behind the console. He produced records for Atlantic and EMI, worked closely with Quebec labels, and established himself as a reliable arranger and music director, winning two Anik Awards and four Félix Awards. As a songwriter he co-penned material for Céline Dion (the breakthrough “Des Mots Qui Sonnent”), Wilson Pickett, and Julien Clerc, as well as disco and pop tracks such as the Bombers’ club anthem “Everybody Get Dancin’.”
From the late 1980s onward, Simon moved into composing for screen. His credits span dozens of productions, among them L’île des pirates disparus (1989), New York, alerte à la peste (1992), and Life with Billy (1993). He earned Gemini Award nominations for Les anges de la ville (1993) and, most famously, for his bold, futuristic score to the sci-fi series Lexx (1997–2002), where he composed music for 65 episodes. His electronic and orchestral textures gave the show much of its cult atmosphere and won him international recognition.
In later years Simon has continued to balance performance, composition, and innovation. He founded MRD–Music Revenue Data Inc. and Powerscore Music, companies dedicated to bringing transparency and fairness to film and television music royalties, ensuring future generations of composers can sustain their craft.
-Robert Williston
Written by Marty Simon (Roll You Over); and Andy Fraser, Marty Simon (By the River)
Produced by Marty Simon
Engineered by Dave Evans
Published by Windfall Music Enterprises Incorporated
Related acts:
Life: https://citizenfreak.com/titles/288229-life-st
The Scene: https://citizenfreak.com/titles/317285-scene-the-scenes-from-another-world-b-w-you-re-in-a-bad-way
Bombers 1: https://citizenfreak.com/titles/268102-bombers-st
Bombers 2: https://citizenfreak.com/titles/268100-bombers-bombers-2
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