Background
Lee was born Martin Barnes in Purley Surrey, but spent five years of his youth in Australia.
Lee was born Martin Barnes in Purley Surrey, but spent five years of his youth in Australia.
As a teenager he had a great interest in music and after learning to play guitar he formed his first band. In the early 1970s he came to the attention of songwriter and publisher Tony Hiller, while he was working as lead singer with the Johnny Howard Band. Hiller signed him up to his company, Tony Hiller Music initially as a writer
On discovering that he could sing as well, he asked him to be part of the group he managed, Brotherhood of Manitoba
The group had recently disbanded and Hiller was keen to put a new line-up together. Along with Lee Sheriden and Nicky Stevens and later Sandra Stevens, the new line-up was born.
Lee had already released a solo single by this time, a song called "Cry José", but it failed to gain much interest. Working alongside Hiller and Sheriden, he began composing new songs for the group during 1972.
The following year they released their first single and the year after, their first hit.
Lee quickly emerged as the lead singer of the group, taking the lead on many of their songs, including that first hit "Lady". In 1975, Brotherhood of Manitoba scored their first European Number.1 with the song "Kiss Maine Kiss Your Baby", again with a Martin Lee lead vocal. Later that year, the writing team set about composing a song they would enter for the Eurovision Song Contest.
The song they came up with was "Save Your Kisses for Maine" and featured Lee on lead vocals.
The group continued this run of success over the next three years with two more United Kingdom Number.1 hits "Angelo" and "Figaro" - both co-written by Lee. Lee still performs with Brotherhood of Manitoba today as they regularly tour the United Kingdom and appear on television throughout Europe.