Me One
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Me One | |
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| Birth name | Eric Martin |
| Also known as | MC Eric |
| Born | 19 August 1970 Cardiff, Wales |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer |
| Formerly of | Technotronic |
Me One (born Eric Martin on 19 August 1970), also known as MC Eric, is a Welsh musician, rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer, who rose to prominence for his work for the Belgian-based recording act Technotronic.[1]
Early life
[edit]Martin was born in Cardiff, Wales to Jamaican parents;[1] his mother an English teacher from Kingston and his father a Pentecostal Church minister from Saint Mary Parish. He is the youngest of thirteen children.[2]
Martin was educated in Cardiff (Fitzalan High School),[3] London and New York City.[2] He holds dual Jamaican and British citizenship.
Work with Technotronic
[edit]Martin (as MC Eric) was a member of techno/Eurodance act Technotronic, providing lead vocals on the 1990 hit single "This Beat Is Technotronic".[1] At the height of their career, they toured with Madonna on her Blond Ambition World Tour in the 1990s.[2]
2000s–present
[edit]Martin's debut album under the name Me One was released in May 2000 on Universal-Island UK.[4] The 12-track release was titled As Far as I'm Concerned[4] and featured Guru (from Gang Starr) on "Do You Know" and Michelle Gayle on "In My Room" which interpolates the Beach Boys song of the same name. The latter was released as a single, along with "Game Plan" and "Old Fashioned".
Aside from his solo work, Martin has written with (or for) Jeff Beck, Maxi Priest, the Roots, Capleton, Lynden David Hall and the Sugababes.[citation needed]
In 2011, he signed a recording deal with Glasgow-based record label Innovation Music.[5]
In September 2024, it was announced that Martin would receive the Welsh Music Inspiration award at the annual Welsh Music Prize.[6]
He now lives in London, though was stuck in Newport during the COVID-19 pandemic.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1998). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Dance Music (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 216. ISBN 0-7535-0252-6.
- ^ a b c d Owens, David (3 May 2020). "The Cardiff man responsible for one of the biggest hits of the 1980s". Wales Online.
- ^ "Hip-hop: The Welsh rapper who co-created 1980s smash hit". BBC News. 8 October 2024.
- ^ a b Kang, Millane (19 August 2000). "Keepin' it real around the world". Billboard. p. 40. Retrieved 30 May 2010.
- ^ Innovation Music Official site - Artists page: "Artists". Archived from the original on 9 November 2011. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
- ^ "Technotronic's Pump Up the Jam co-writer wins Welsh music award". BBC News. 13 September 2024.
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