mark indigo -> Juan Martin? (Dec. 12 2007 21:31:56)
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Hi, I'm relatively new here, and don't want to bore old-timers, and I have read all the old posts I can find relating to this already, which only serve to deepen the mystery for me.... they also refer back to even older posts (apparently) called "Juan Martin wars" which I couldn't find, unless that's what I was already reading...? The question I have really is not whether JM is a good guitarist or not, or whether he's better or worse than PDL (I have ears of my own...) but whether the persistent rumours about JM are true or false, and if true, is there some kind of conspiracy of silence about outing him? And if false, well then they are pretty nasty and ought to be scotched with some hard factual evidence! I am, of course, talking about "rumours" that he is not Spanish, that his accent is not genuine, and that he grew up in Brighton, UK, where he was known as "Johnny Martin" and spoke with a South-Eastern English accent. The point is, I don't begrudge anyone success based on talent and/or hard work (and I don't think anyone would deny that JM puts the work in producing teaching materials, albums and tours), but if someone promoting "traditional pure" flamenco is deliberately misleading the public or wilfully allowing untruths to be broadcast about themselves then I think there is a Trading Standards issue here and that it is totally outrageous! I have looked at a number of JM's books and video's, none of which say where he was born, where he grew up, or what nationality his parents are/were (and I'm sure if he was Spanish and born and brought up in Spain it would be trumpeted very loudly), yet the Wikipedia on him says he was born in Malaga (repeated in at least one newspaper article/interview).... Can anyone verify if this is true or false? Sorry to go on about this if you're bored of this already, but I have heard so many things about this over the years, and have had so many discussions with people about it that I really feel like I need to know the truth! Also, if (and it's a big "if" 'cos I don't know) these rumours are true, and if JM were open and honest about it, it might open the door for other non-Spanish guitarists to be accepted by the public in the UK and USA, and if they are false, then a hell of a lot of people need to stop bitching about this guy! mark
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