Martin Zellar is Making a Scene

October 20, 2023

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Making a Scene Presents an Interview with Martin Zellar

If you ask singer-songwriter Martin Zellar what he’s most proud of over his long career, he answers, “I guess that I’ve managed to support my family by writing, recording, and performing music for over 35 years. It hasn’t always been easy or glamorous, but I’ve found a way. I still love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else. And honestly, the fact that I’m not qualified to do anything else has been a motivator”. The truth is, Martin Zellar has made his living as a singer-songwriter for over 35 years because he has always reliably delivered what his fans have come to expect from him: quality songwriting and heartfelt performances.

Martin Zellar first appeared on the fertile mid-80s Minneapolis music scene as the lead singer and songwriter of the alt-country pioneering Gear Daddies. In 1986 the Gear Daddies signed with Gark Records, a small Minneapolis independent label, and released a 45rpm record (She’s Happy b/w 2-18) and a full-length LP, Let’s Go Scare Al. In 1998, they made the jump to Polygram Records, at that time the biggest label in the world.

“We were a small fish in a huge pond, and it felt like an odd match from the get-go,” says Zellar. “The label Americana didn’t exist back then, so we were hard to categorize. Our A&R guy loved us, but the head of the label made it clear that he had no idea how to market us. When I asked him why they had bothered to sign us in the first place, he didn’t have an answer. Ultimately, I think the Minneapolis scene was so hot that labels were snapping up acts for fear of missing out. We were in the right place at the right time and rode the coattails of some pretty incredible Minneapolis bands of that era.”

The Gear Daddies released the critically acclaimed album Billy’s Live Bait in 1990, toured non-stop, and performed on Late Night with David Letterman (Letterman was a fan of the album) before amicably parting ways in 1992. Zellar then went on to record and perform as a solo artist, releasing seven more albums on the Rykodisc and Owen Lee Recording labels. His 1993 release, Born Under, and his 2012 release, Roosters Crow, were especially well-received by critics.

Zellar currently resides in Central Mexico with his family.

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