Stanley MARTIN

Stanley Alexander MARTIN/Nana baBa jaH-aYe, born December 1st 1952, Kingston. Jamaica, West Indies...

I started reading at the age of two, after listening and watching my mother, Abigale Blake, read her Bible in the evenings. My mother, expecting my sister "Maggie", enroled me in a very expensive Kindergarden, one of the prime intellectual influences on me still!

With no State education in Jamaica, Nursery School gave me a head start, which meant that a seven, in private Primary School, I was put in a class two years ahead of my age!

This educational success continued in London, England from 1961, after my parents, British Nationals, immigrated. I was the first offspring taken over, and with "Stranger on the Shore" a huge national hit, my arrival drummed this theme into my head, as the national media chose to use it after my parents forgot to come for me on my arrival at Heathrow Airport: "You're not allowed!" was my innocent cries as both National Radio and Television enjoyed the mistake!

Growing up in London, despite this debacle, I dreamed on joining the Media in some capacity! Encouraged by training at Acton High School, by my Deputy Headmaster, Mr Cooke, "Old Boney" for his strictness, and The BBC Script Unit in the 1970's, a degree in Media Studies was no problems, especially as my first poetry anthology, "Where I Am Coming From", Akira Press, London, arrived at its core in 1985...

had to wait several years for another, but after several years of teaching, and a prize for the innovative design of an early internet company, "jOy MEDIA" in 1996, and the honour of being a Millenium Star Award Winner in the year 2000 /2001, several books were put into the reaches of Lulu.com.

I do classical and reggae albums too!