Christopher Anthony John Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and philanthropist. He is the lead singer, primary songwriter, and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay. Born in Exeter, Devon, Martin went to University College London, where he formed a rock band with Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, and Will Champion in 1996 called Starfish, which was eventually renamed Coldplay in 1998.
Martin, along with the other Coldplay members, achieved worldwide fame with the release of the band's song "Yellow" in 2000, a song that also earned the band their first Grammy Award nomination in the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The band then received accolades for their subsequent albums including A Rush of Blood to the Head and Viva la Vida, winning a Grammy Award for both and a Brit Award for the former. Coldplay have sold over 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the world's best-selling music artists. Martin appeared on Debrett's 2017 list of the most influential people in the United Kingdom.
Last Updated: June 9, 2021
