Guitarist John Martyn began his career on the '60s coffee house folk scene as a teenager, signing to Island Records and releasing his first album, 1967's London Conversation, at 19. Martyn quickly began to add jazz, blues and progressive rock textures to his music, which became increasingly ethereal. His 1973 album Solid Air, featuring a title track dedicated to his close friend Nick Drake, marked his critical and commercial high point. Martyn never stopped his musical explorations, although increasingly poor health slowed his output in the years preceding his 2009 death.