Marty Helly
Stories of life told by voice, guitar, and assorted toys
An Acoustic Vocals track by Marty Helly.
Independent artist Marty Helly drops "Just One More (very rough version)", an Acoustic Vocals track on SoundClick. Featuring bass and keys, the production has a distinctive and cohesive sound. This is the unmistakable sound of Northampton, and it will especially appeal to acoustic vocals fans. "Just One More (very rough version)" has peaked at number 8 on the SoundClick Acoustic Vocals chart. Find more from Marty Helly on SoundClick, a platform built for independent music discovery. Download this song for free on SoundClick.
Dedicated to anyone who has stayed up way too late trying to get something to work out. I stayed up until 5 am last week cleaning this up a bit too!
SoundClick artist Marty Helly presents "Songwriter Blues", an outstanding release in the Country Blues genre. Featuring bass and keys, the production has a distinctive and cohesive sound. The Northampton influence comes through clearly, making this especially appealing to country blues fans. "Songwriter Blues" has peaked at number 6 on the SoundClick Country Blues chart. Marty Helly is an independent artist on SoundClick, releasing Country Blues music directly to fans worldwide.
Good things can happen on the morning after, like writing this song - a happy feeling depressing song created from a lovesick hungover theme
Independent artist Marty Helly drops "Reflections on a Bottle", an Acoustic Rock track on SoundClick. Featuring bass and keys, the production has a distinctive and cohesive sound. Representing the charismatic sound of acoustic rock in Northampton, this track speaks for itself. "Reflections on a Bottle" has peaked at #16 in the Acoustic Rock category on SoundClick. Find more from Marty Helly on SoundClick, a platform built for independent music discovery.
First recording of this with guitar recorded direct on an I-beam pickup
SoundClick artist Marty Helly presents "Ice - rough version", an outstanding release in the Acoustic Guitar genre. Featuring bass and keys, the production has a distinctive and cohesive sound. The Northampton influence comes through clearly, making this especially appealing to acoustic guitar fans. Marty Helly continues to build an Acoustic Guitar catalog on SoundClick, one of the longest-running platforms for independent artists. Download this song for free on SoundClick.
As the snow melts and the mud slowly dries, a song of hope
"Spring" by Marty Helly is an Acoustic Folk production available on SoundClick. The sound is shaped by bass and keys, giving the song its signature feel. The Northampton influence comes through clearly, making this especially appealing to acoustic folk fans. It has charted at #22 on the SoundClick Acoustic Folk chart. Stream "Spring" and explore more from Marty Helly on SoundClick. This song is available as free download.
Check out ICE on the music page. Its appropriate this time of year to cool you down.
New for 2017: After more than 10 years of performing every Saturday night I've taken some time off to take care of other priorities in life. Rest assured music will always be a priority but gigging every week isn't all its about.
Thank you particularly to Bishops, all the patrons, bartenders and managers - it was a fun run.
When the time comes to get back on stage it'll be posted on the calendar.
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A million life stories written every day, each a song to play, there’s so little time.
Marty Helly is on the road to experience everything life has to offer and express it in the music he plays. While he loves the complexity of progressive rock and jazz, you’re just as likely to find him on stage solo with a guitar and a folk ballad, or at the piano tickling the ivories with a pop standard, or pounding out a driving bass line behind a screaming blues band.
I now have a blog
Marty has been playing music forever. Starting with piano lessons at five and classical guitar before his teens, he moved on to a Strat and school rock bands and then to gigs in club bands and as a soloist. Past projects have literally covered everything from A to Z Acapella choirs to Zeppelin style rock - blues bars to rock shows to coffeehouse folk to church performances. His travels have taken him throughout the U.S. (48 of the 50 states), Canada, Mexico and Europe.
My live performances in the recent past have been limited to the Northeast - primarily Western Massachusetts but also in Vermont, Connecticut, and New York. Currently I'm taking some time off.
The magical moments haven’t been the bigger shows, or even the paid ones. Among the true highlights: Performing "Take This Job and Shove It”" at a Sunday morning church service (and still getting paid!); Serenading the sunrise after an all night party on the Jersey Shore; Singing to the stars with a hundred friends in the natural rock ampitheater on Flagstaf above Boulder, CO.