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Wikipedia

Marty Watt

January 07, 2023

Martin “Marty” Watt (born 1952) is an American performer and actor, who played a pivotal role in the development of “performance poetry” in the early 1970s.[1][2][3] In the late 1970s and 1980s, he moved increasingly into music[4] and motion pictures.[5]

Marty Watt
Marty Watt in Valencia, Spain, 2012
Background information
Birth nameMartin Patrick Watt
Born1952 (age 70–71)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
GenresPoetry, Performance, No Wave, Cinema
Occupation(s)Performance poet, Lyricist, Vocalist, Actor
Years active1970–1987
Websitewww.dotfur.com

Biography

Watt was born into a working-class family in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia.[6] His father, Martin, was a civil servant, and his mother, Claire, was a housewife and semi-professional lounge singer.[7] He attended Frankford High School in Philadelphia, but left before graduating to pursue a career in the arts.[6] Interested in poetry from an early age, Watt had begun composing his own poems, influenced by such authors as "...Keats, Shakespeare, and the old anonymous ballads",[8] rather than by the Beat Generation poets so in vogue at the time.

Watt published intermittently throughout the early and mid-1970s in independent Philadelphia magazines and literary journals such as CONTACT, where his work appeared alongside that of Ted Berrigan, Tom Pickard and Otis Brown.[9][10] But it was for his live performances that Watt gained wider notoriety. Initially in his native Philadelphia, but later in Washington and New York, Watt built a steady following and drew strong reviews for shows which challenged audience expectations as to what a “poetry reading” was.[3] Alan Kriegsman of The Washington Post said Watt “created an unclassifiable format of his own. Part recital, part sideshow, part seance. To call it a poetry reading would be like calling King Kong a nature film.”[11] His performances displayed an interest in stagecraft seldom seen in the conventional poetry reading- sound effects, lighting effects, specially built sets, props, costume design,[12] as well as the occasional use of backup “singers”[2][13]-all used in accompaniment to Watt's recital from memory,[6] sometimes delivered rapidfire, other times resembling the apparent loose spontaneity of a stand-up comedian.

In Philadelphia, Watt had successful runs at Etage,[3] the Mask and Wig Club,[13] the Wilma Theater,[7] and the Painted Bride,[14] among others. In Washington D.C. he appeared at the Washington Project for the Arts in late January 1976, the three night series of performances being praised in both the Washington Post[11] and the (now defunct) Washington Star.[12]

As he increasingly integrated music into his performances, Watt ultimately formed a band with a number of Philadelphia musicians. Part of New York's “no wave” school, and influenced by Jamaican “dub-style” reggae vocalists,[2] the band was fronted by Watt and included an evolving series of musicians, (among them Paul Dugan, Hank Ransome, and Chris Larkin).[4] They performed under various names in New York and Philadelphia area venues, and recorded one never released album.[15] The band's material was based on poems, or fragments of same, written by Watt and set to music composed by various other components of the band.[4]

In 1982, Watt collaborated with painter and graphic artist Matt Marello on Marty Watt Is Not Matt Marello and Vice Verse (Wax Bean/Go Home Productions, 1982), a book of Watt poems illustrated by Marello.[16]

In 1985, Watt starred in the motion picture Almost You, a romantic comedy set in New York.[17] The film included the performance of one of Watt's own poems, "It Really Slits My Throat."[18] Watt also wrote the lyrics to the film's closing credit theme "Closer to Near Than Far."[18]

Marty Watt performing World Made of Flies
Marty Watt band performing song Ungawa

References

  1. ^ Damsker, Matt (November 13, 1975). "Solo Psychodrama". Evening Bulletin. p. 53.
  2. ^ a b c Damsker, Matt (March 21, 1976). "Marty and Patti on Weekend Bill". The Sunday Bulletin. Peacock, Fetherstone & Co. OCLC 2260925.
  3. ^ a b c Flood, Richard (Oct 28, 1975). "What's Going on at Etage". The Drummer: 6.
  4. ^ a b c Fricke, David (Oct 12, 1976). "Watt's a Punk: Give him a Great Big Push". The Drummer. p. 13.
  5. ^ "Almost You mainpage". IMDb.com.
  6. ^ a b c Levy, Steven (May 30, 1976). "The Poet of Pop". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Interstate General Media: 15. ISSN 0885-6613.
  7. ^ a b "Watt Performs Show". Williamstown Plain Dealer. Plain Dealer Print Co.: 10 Jan 19, 1983. OCLC 23063581.
  8. ^ Kriegsman, Alan (Jan 23, 1976). "Watt's It All About, Marty?". The Washington Post. p. C11. ISSN 0190-8286.
  9. ^ Goldberg, Jeff, ed. (January 1973). "Contact-5". January 1973. Red Room Books. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ "Temple University Libraries". library.temple.edu.
  11. ^ a b Kriegsman, Alan M. (Jan 23, 1976). "Watt's It All About, Marty?". The Washington Post. p. C1.
  12. ^ a b McCollum, Charlie (Jan 22, 1976). "Marty Watt, A Now Poet". The Washington Star: C4.
  13. ^ a b Levy, Steven. "The Poet of Pop". Philadelphia Inquirer Today Magazine. Interstate General Media: 14. ISSN 0885-6613.
  14. ^ "Underground Festival at the Painted Bride". Youtube.com.
  15. ^ Watt, Marty. "Relive the 80s website". Relive the 80s.
  16. ^ Watt, Marty (1982). Marty Watt is Not Matt Marello: And Vice Verse [sic].
  17. ^ "Almost You full cast". IMDb.com.
  18. ^ a b "Almost You Soundtrack". IMDb.com.

External links

  • Hallwalls, Buffalo N.Y. 1980
  • Marty Watt at Painted Bride Philadelphia Underground Festival
  • It Really Slits My Throat from Almost You
  • Soundcloud poetry files

January 07, 2023
marty, watt, martin, marty, watt, born, 1952, american, performer, actor, played, pivotal, role, development, performance, poetry, early, 1970s, late, 1970s, 1980s, moved, increasingly, into, music, motion, pictures, valencia, spain, 2012background, informatio. Martin Marty Watt born 1952 is an American performer and actor who played a pivotal role in the development of performance poetry in the early 1970s 1 2 3 In the late 1970s and 1980s he moved increasingly into music 4 and motion pictures 5 Marty WattMarty Watt in Valencia Spain 2012Background informationBirth nameMartin Patrick WattBorn1952 age 70 71 Philadelphia Pennsylvania U S GenresPoetry Performance No Wave CinemaOccupation s Performance poet Lyricist Vocalist ActorYears active1970 1987Websitewww wbr dotfur wbr comBiography EditWatt was born into a working class family in the Fairmount neighborhood of Philadelphia 6 His father Martin was a civil servant and his mother Claire was a housewife and semi professional lounge singer 7 He attended Frankford High School in Philadelphia but left before graduating to pursue a career in the arts 6 Interested in poetry from an early age Watt had begun composing his own poems influenced by such authors as Keats Shakespeare and the old anonymous ballads 8 rather than by the Beat Generation poets so in vogue at the time Watt published intermittently throughout the early and mid 1970s in independent Philadelphia magazines and literary journals such as CONTACT where his work appeared alongside that of Ted Berrigan Tom Pickard and Otis Brown 9 10 But it was for his live performances that Watt gained wider notoriety Initially in his native Philadelphia but later in Washington and New York Watt built a steady following and drew strong reviews for shows which challenged audience expectations as to what a poetry reading was 3 Alan Kriegsman of The Washington Post said Watt created an unclassifiable format of his own Part recital part sideshow part seance To call it a poetry reading would be like calling King Kong a nature film 11 His performances displayed an interest in stagecraft seldom seen in the conventional poetry reading sound effects lighting effects specially built sets props costume design 12 as well as the occasional use of backup singers 2 13 all used in accompaniment to Watt s recital from memory 6 sometimes delivered rapidfire other times resembling the apparent loose spontaneity of a stand up comedian In Philadelphia Watt had successful runs at Etage 3 the Mask and Wig Club 13 the Wilma Theater 7 and the Painted Bride 14 among others In Washington D C he appeared at the Washington Project for the Arts in late January 1976 the three night series of performances being praised in both the Washington Post 11 and the now defunct Washington Star 12 As he increasingly integrated music into his performances Watt ultimately formed a band with a number of Philadelphia musicians Part of New York s no wave school and influenced by Jamaican dub style reggae vocalists 2 the band was fronted by Watt and included an evolving series of musicians among them Paul Dugan Hank Ransome and Chris Larkin 4 They performed under various names in New York and Philadelphia area venues and recorded one never released album 15 The band s material was based on poems or fragments of same written by Watt and set to music composed by various other components of the band 4 In 1982 Watt collaborated with painter and graphic artist Matt Marello on Marty Watt Is Not Matt Marello and Vice Verse Wax Bean Go Home Productions 1982 a book of Watt poems illustrated by Marello 16 In 1985 Watt starred in the motion picture Almost You a romantic comedy set in New York 17 The film included the performance of one of Watt s own poems It Really Slits My Throat 18 Watt also wrote the lyrics to the film s closing credit theme Closer to Near Than Far 18 source source Marty Watt performing World Made of Flies source source Marty Watt band performing song UngawaReferences Edit Damsker Matt November 13 1975 Solo Psychodrama Evening Bulletin p 53 a b c Damsker Matt March 21 1976 Marty and Patti on Weekend Bill The Sunday Bulletin Peacock Fetherstone amp Co OCLC 2260925 a b c Flood Richard Oct 28 1975 What s Going on at Etage The Drummer 6 a b c Fricke David Oct 12 1976 Watt s a Punk Give him a Great Big Push The Drummer p 13 Almost You mainpage IMDb com a b c Levy Steven May 30 1976 The Poet of Pop The Philadelphia Inquirer Interstate General Media 15 ISSN 0885 6613 a b Watt Performs Show Williamstown Plain Dealer Plain Dealer Print Co 10 Jan 19 1983 OCLC 23063581 Kriegsman Alan Jan 23 1976 Watt s It All About Marty The Washington Post p C11 ISSN 0190 8286 Goldberg Jeff ed January 1973 Contact 5 January 1973 Red Room Books a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a Cite journal requires journal help Temple University Libraries library temple edu a b Kriegsman Alan M Jan 23 1976 Watt s It All About Marty The Washington Post p C1 a b McCollum Charlie Jan 22 1976 Marty Watt A Now Poet The Washington Star C4 a b Levy Steven The Poet of Pop Philadelphia Inquirer Today Magazine Interstate General Media 14 ISSN 0885 6613 Underground Festival at the Painted Bride Youtube com Watt Marty Relive the 80s website Relive the 80s Watt Marty 1982 Marty Watt is Not Matt Marello And Vice Verse sic Almost You full cast IMDb com a b Almost You Soundtrack IMDb com External links EditHallwalls Buffalo N Y 1980 Marty Watt at Painted Bride Philadelphia Underground Festival It Really Slits My Throat from Almost You Soundcloud poetry files Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marty Watt amp oldid 1113168945, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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