BIOGRAPHY – The Life Of Riley
MARTIN RILEY was born in Nottingham where he was taught by his mother to read music from a very early age. After later being left a piano by a neighbour at seven years old, Martin was given lessons. Formal music training began some years later at Clarendon College, Nottingham and then at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, where he later was appointed as a visiting lecturer in music and composition at only 23.
Martin’s career has ranged from touring with Classical Brit Award winners Blake performing live on BBC Radio 2 on Terry Wogan’s show and BBC London Radio for Gaby Roslin; to composing for the Moscow Symphony and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras; from arranging and composing music for the Southern Sinfonia (composer-in-residence) to playing keyboards with Roger Daltrey and Alice Cooper. Over the years he has garnered widespread recognition for his work*. As a freelance Composer/Songwriter/Pianist he has provided creative input for artists such as The Charlatans (No 1 album Telling Stories), Deep Purple, Hayley Westenra, All Angels, The Soldiers and various major and independent recording companies. Recently Martin has appeared with Susan Boyle in her DVDs and the TV advert promoting her latest album Someone to Watch Over Me and recently finished touring with Il Divo and Katherine Jenkins in the UK and Ireland part of the 2013 world tour. He is in demand as a session artist/composer and has composed and worked on ads for TK Maxx TV ad campaign 2013 featuring Maverick Sabre (Rocket Music-Universal) . He is also working on a much anticipated solo piano album, a Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, another couple of original musicals and some huge projects that involve world scale performances that will make a genuine difference to the people of the world (more to be announced on this soon)
In Theatre, Martin has been Composer, Arranger and Musical Director for the Birmingham Repertory Theatre’s 2014/15 Christmas Show The BFG by Roald Dahl. MD/Conductor on the RSC’s The Taming of the Shrew and the Birmingham Rep’s The Pied Piper. He has also composed original music, orchestrated, performed and MD’d for many other theatre shows and musicals in theatres all over the UK. This includes The Elvis Years; the touring version of Jail House Rock from London’s West End, Buddy Holly (a spin off from the West End hit ‘Buddy’ the musical) and United On A Wednesday Night at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield. He has also composed original musicals such as Koba Man Of Steel in association with Thomas De Keyser which was premiered at The Alexandra Theatre Birmingham and A Country Credit Crunch in association with playwright Adrian Penketh which had concert performances at The Soho Theatre, London.
Martin passionately believes in education through music and has taught literally thousands of people from ages 4 to 84 all over the UK and at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. In 2013 he has been working with the London College of Music and Ealing Youth Orchestras as an arranger and orchestrator for the sensational new band Koukie to great acclaim. Other projects include the national In Harmony music campaign to help primary school children develop their musical potential and A Global Gathering where the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic performed Martin’s work Eden and then the Rain… to 13,000 pupils from local schools; he then unexpectedly received thousands of poems describing the piece and its impact. Music is a strong force.
He lives in North London, UK.
*Moondance Film festival (L.A.) best short film 2006 (winner); Texas world open song writing competition 2006 (winner); International Songwriting Competition (finalist, 2003, 04, 05 and 06); National Fanfare for Birmingham Competition (winner 1989); PRS prize for composition (winner, 1990) and various piano and chamber music prizes as a teenager.
Jul 25, 2015 @ 14:46:45
I think we might be related. Does the name Gertrude Bentley ring any bells?
If so, please contact me Thanks. Janice Wade (Bentley)
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Jul 23, 2019 @ 23:22:22
Certainly does, we are second cousins 🙂
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Apr 08, 2015 @ 17:15:16
Hi Martin
Remember me from our Clarendon days? I was thrilled to see how successful you’ve been since then. Well deserved. I still have the composition you wrote for me and my trusty recorder! You’ve come a long way since then.
Congratulations on doing so well.
Lisa
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Nov 12, 2014 @ 19:50:13
Hi martin hope you are well you may not remember us!! But we are trusts friends!!! Met you at Croydon and Exmouth!! Didn’t know how to contact you?? Didn’t want to loose contact with you swing trist isn’t doing Blake!! Best wishes sean and celia xx
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Nov 12, 2014 @ 20:02:59
Sorry it’s should have been tristeps mates lowland it wasn’t Croydon it was Barnstaple and Exmouth……. Croydon was ray Davis with trist lol. My email is sdejennings51@googlemail.com@Googlemail.com would like to keep in contact sean and celia xx
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Aug 27, 2014 @ 16:53:53
Fabulous musician, arranger, keyboardist/pianist with an incredible ear and immense talent. Enjoyed our Birmingham Conservartoire days together. Would be great to get together some time soon.
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Feb 06, 2014 @ 16:22:07
http://clactonartsandlits.com/blake-clacton-arts-and-lits
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May 06, 2013 @ 21:47:00
Hi had the pleasure of listening to you play late last night at bonchurch I was one of the lady’s in my night gown . You were brilliant and a all round nice guy
Karen wilcock
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Mar 29, 2013 @ 22:51:49
Martin – it’s great to see how well you’re doing. We’ve not seen each other since the day I got married ( and that’s nearly 20 years). It’d be great to catch up – especially as I’m in London at the moment. Jon
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Jun 09, 2013 @ 10:49:42
Hey Jon, great to hear from you, it would be fantastic to catch up, drop me a quick email to blistertips@hotmail.com and let’s sort it out 🙂
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Feb 21, 2013 @ 12:46:03
Hia Martin,
Have you got a phone contact?
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Jan 18, 2013 @ 02:45:55
Mr. Riley, I am a friend and former band mate of Dominic Turner. I have a few questions I’d like to ask you. Would you please email me at your earliest convenience? Thank you.
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Dec 29, 2012 @ 13:01:41
Wow you’ve been busy! Great night last night. Hope you liked my baking. See you one day in St Tropez. XX
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Feb 20, 2013 @ 15:58:53
Thanks Carl and Jane it would be great to be sipping cocktails in St Tropez one day. Also your baking was superb!!
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Jul 28, 2012 @ 15:48:39
Hello Martin, I just love what you are doing with Cecilia Le Poer Power on this latest album. I have the samples from my son TJ Norton the blues harp player in Bradford. The right touch for her heart opening voice. The original songs are stunning – congratulations,. John~Anthony
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Jul 14, 2012 @ 17:00:29
Another great concert with Blake in Frome on Thursday evening, my fourth one this year – ooops!! Still a few more planned too. They just keep getting better and they were good in the first place! 🙂 Keep up the good work Martin & see you in the not too distant future!
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Jul 14, 2012 @ 16:45:05
Hey Martin, my music teacher Dominic Turner contacted you on friday about possibly answering some questions via e-mail for my extended project on different approaches and the development of songwriting. If you are happy to help me out with this I would be really appreciative.
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May 23, 2012 @ 16:43:15
Hey Martin! 🙂 Met you last night at the Blake concert, was lovely to talk to you. Hope you enjoy the rest of the tour, very jealous!
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May 31, 2012 @ 01:13:38
Hi Kim it was lovely to meet you too. We’re actually up in the North East over the Jubilee weekend this time in Blyth and Newcastle. I love it up there! If you’d like to keep in touch add me on facebook.. Mart R. Keep up the lovely singing and playing. All luck to you 🙂
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May 20, 2012 @ 09:50:19
Hi Martin. Impressive what you’ve been up to!
Sounds like you’re keeping busy as always.
I was in your ‘ICHA’ class in 1998! Still playing Jazz and teaching.
Cheers. Dan
http://www.myspace.com/danwhieldon
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May 20, 2012 @ 15:12:10
Cheers Dan I remember that class very well. Glad your playing’s going good. I saw Nat Top not so long ago. If you want to stay in touch my FB is Mart R. All the best 🙂
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Feb 07, 2012 @ 19:23:14
Hope you’re still writing music. It’s good for the soul 🙂
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Nov 03, 2011 @ 20:20:17
Hi Martin, just searched for you on google on a whim and found your website! It’s been so long since I’ve had a lesson off you! Strange how the time flies.
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Jul 20, 2011 @ 17:19:14
Hi Martin, didn’t take too long to find you on Google!
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