Martone
Detroit, Michigan, United States | Established. Jan 01, 1988 | INDIE
Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
His name is Martone. No last name. Just Martone. It's been that way since he was barely a teenager living in Lansing.
At 13, Martone was the youngest person to enroll in Continental Cablevision's public access producers' course. Soon after he was producing and hosting his own show. "Video Control" was a music video program that went into syndication to select cities by its third year. During the show's run Martone interviewed rising stars such as Will Smith, Queen Latifah, En Vogue, Vanilla Ice and Public Enemy. After an incredible 13 years on the air, Martone decided to call it quits and move to Motown.
In Detroit, he enrolled in the Specs Howard School of Media Arts for additional training in television and radio production and promotions. He worked a variety of jobs, including one as administrative assistant for the Ruth Ellis Center in Highland Park. But he still felt a passion for entertainment and struggled to get back in the business.
In 2009, love intervened and Martone relocated to Dallas with his partner. Martone created Enotram Entertainment and his first project until the company name was Industry Review (now known as IRMIX Radio), an entertainment news and online radio station focused on providing one-on-one interviews. For IR, Martone interviewed such folks as CeCe Peniston and Kurtis Blow. But somewhere along the way, Martone decided that he wanted to do more than just ask the questions. He decided that he wanted to be the one actually giving interviews instead of conducting them.
"It was always something that I wanted to do," Martone recalled. "I guess the courage didn't really come to me until after my father had passed away. It kind of made me realize that life is short, so why not do what you love to do?"
Having written poetry since childhood, Martone started transforming his rhymes into song lyrics and began work on his first album. He turned to his cousin, Michael E. Williams of Platinum Keyz Recordings, to produce the project. "A lot of times my poetry would be about love and relationships," said Martone. "Like the song 'Chocolate,' that was a poem that I had written like seven or eight years ago. And what I would do is have a song in mind and give it to my cousin, and let him know exactly what I wanted it to sound like. Or sometimes he sent me tracks and I would write to them."
The finished project, "The Evolution of Martone," was released in June 2015, just days after the death of Martone's old boss and dear friend, Grace McClelland, the former executive director of the Ruth Ellis Center. "I was getting ready to send the music to the distributor when I found out she had died," Martone said. "It blew me away. I couldn't even function for like two or three days. It was really bad. She was one of my biggest supporters. So I dedicated the first edition to her."
This fall, Martone released "The Evolution of Martone - Second Edition" and even filmed a music video while in Detroit for Thanksgiving. The video starred popular Detroit area deejay DJ Tone as his love interest.
"I've had a crush on him for a long time," confessed Martone. "So it was dream number one to shoot my first music video and then to have somebody who's not too hard to look at help you do it ... it was great. I've had people ask me, 'Are y'all together?' And it's like, 'No.' They said it was believable and that we had good chemistry on film. And after watching the footage back I can definitely see that."
Not everyone was thrilled with what they saw however. "My mom said I was selling sex," Martone said with a laugh. "I said, 'Is that what she thinks I'm doing?' When I look at it I don't see that. To me, what I'm doing is promoting love. If anyone read the lyrics of the song they would definitely see that. Those are supposed to be my memories of the one I love."
Whatever he's selling, folks are definitely buying. The album spent 18 weeks at number one on ReverbNation/EDM Dance Charts and each of the album's three singles - "Love You I Do," "Groove Tonight" and "Chocolate" - all made it to No. 1 as well. Martone plans to go into rehearsals for a spring tour just after Christmas and he's very excited about coming home to perform.
"That'll be the most awesome experience," he said. "I definitely want to do that. I'll probably be overwhelmed with joy. I just hope I'll be able to live up to the expectations and show my hometown what I've been doing with my life."
"The Evolution of Martone - Second Edition" is available on iTunes, Spotify and Google Play. - Pride Source
Fearless, sexy and seductive are just a few adjectives to describe the latest release from Enotram Entertainment recording artist, Martone.
2015, has been a surprisingly good year for the Chocolate singer. The Evolution of Martone 1st and 2nd Editions has spent 21 weeks at #1 on Reverbnation charts www.reverbnation.com/martone9, a recent nomination for Entertainer of the Year for UBE The B.L.A.C.K Awards http://ubedallas.org/blackawards His album cover The Evolution of Martone 2nd Edition had been featured in Times Square in New York City, in addition to Jumbotron exposure, internet buzz had him trending on social media for nearly one month and that lead to 600 websites around the world featuring his album, which is virtually on unheard of for an independent artist.
With a regional tour and music video planned for his song Chocolate (Spoken Word Mix) in the works there is no signs of him slowing down. “This has been a dream come true for me, I had never really expected for this to take off as quickly as it has.” Said the singer.
Martone wrote and executive produced his album The Evolution of Martone with the guidance of cousin Michael E. Williams, serving at the lead producer for the project. “If it was not for my cousin Michael, I’m not sure where this project would be at this point. I told him what I wanted each song to sound like and he had exceeded my expectations.” He said.
Although Martone had been openly gay since he was 18 years old, he felt the need to disclose this information to the world this is something that friends and family had advised against figuring that this admission might negatively affect his chances at becoming successful. “I had always been open about who I am, and who I love, I really did not see an issue with coming out to the world. In fact, it is 2015 and things are changing for the LGBT community. There was no coincidence that the Supreme Court decision came down on the same day of the release of the 1st Edition. I am excited about the response that I have been getting from others. It has always been a dream of mine to help others through my work and I believe that this project is the most important thing that I have ever done.” He said.
Martone currently has several shows scheduled in Dallas and Houston with more to come.
Dallas, TX at The Curtain Club on 12/10/15 * Dallas, TX at The Prophet Bar * 12/13/15
Houston, TX at Eastdown Warehouse on 01/15/16
Visit his Facebook fan page and subscribe to keep up to date with all things Martone www.facebook.com/TheRealMartone
The Evolution of Martone 1st and 2nd Editions are available for purchase on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and anywhere else music is sold online. - TUV Magazine
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Martone is a multi-talented artist who continues to make positive strides in the music and entertainment industry. He has recently added yet another success to a long list of accolades in his musical career in becoming a member of the National Recording Arts and Sciences. Some of his many hits include Groove Tonight, Love You I Do Auoo, Chocolate - The Spoken Word Mix and Office Politics.
His most recent album 'The Evolution of Martone' #TEOM Deluxe Edition, has been described as 'both a synthesis of Martone's roots and future.' Buddy Nelson – Jamsphere Magazine.
Erick from ElectroWow Music Blog says 'Martone's New remixes will sweep you off your feet!'
Pop star Martone's rich vocal range gives passion filled diversity to his sound. The pulsating deep house beats erupt with power and seduction. His deep and playful vocal energy has a strength and sensitivity which comes across warmly throughout his music. The Evolution of Martone Deluxe Edition,(#TEOM) has exclusive remixes by Duce, DJ Extreme Detroit, and DJ Suspence.
No stranger to the world of music, Martone's years of experience have earned him both recognition and respect. Martone first realized his passion for entertaining after a televised performance at his first school at just seven years old. Originally from Lansing, Michigan, he is often described as an impassioned visionary, poised to become one of the most recognized names in the entertainment industry. The positive feedback from the audience at a young age of seven, no doubt helped to cement his determination to succeed.
Between ages seven and fifteen he experienced some bullying, but still succeeded in becoming the youngest person to enroll and complete a Continental Cablevision's Public Access producer's course. Within a year of this achievement he created, produced and hosted Video Control, a music video program which was broadcast on the public access network. By its third year the show was syndicated and could be seen by viewers in Phoenix, New York City and Cincinnati along with other prominent Cities. During the shows thirteenth year Martone interviewed an impressive line-up of vocalists, musicians and rappers including Will Smith, Queen Latifah, En Vogue, Vanilla Ice and Public Enemy. These artists would later become some of the most recognizable names on the R&B and hip hop music scene.
During 2015 Martone's music video for Chocolate, spoken word mix premiered on MTV.com, his album cover appeared four times in Times Square Jumbotron. This spent 65 weeks at number one on Reverbnation and twelve weeks in the top five nationally and internationally on Reverbnation.
In November 2015 he was nominated for entertainer of the year by UBE Ellument Dallas.
Other personal achievements include his success in supporting the gay community as an openly gay African American entertainer. He highlighted same gender loving relationships in a music video as the principal character the music video for Chocolate | Spoken Word Mix, which premiered on Vevo in January this year [2016].
Martone has been trending on social media since June 2015 at least 3 times per week with hash tag #Martone and #TEOM using www.Bing.com
The development of his album has been inspired by some of the more positive things in life like love, hanging out with friends and clubbing; all of which Martone holds dear. A quote from Martone says 'for all that I experienced in my personal life, the odds were against me. I defied the odds and when someone told me what I couldn't do, I absolutely showed them that I could.' The making of this new album has not happened without some very difficult and raw emotions as disturbing events in the news unfolded during the final production. Forty nine victims were gunned down during a massacre in Pulse Night Club Orlando. Shortly after the news took another devastating turn with the killings of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the ambush of five police officers which took place in Martone's home town of Dallas, Texas.
Martone made the compassionate decision to donate 10% of all sales of #TEOM to the Pulse Night Victims Fund and various victims of gun violence organizations in the United States, to help educate and prevent gun violence.
For more information log onto: martoneonline.com
FURTHER INFORMATION
The album is available worldwide on Friday, July 15, 2016 for digital downloads. Physical copies can be ordered through CDBaby at www.cdbaby.com/cd/martone15
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