Martin Slavin

Lore & Background

Martin Slavin was born in London. He served in the army as a Band Sergeant, and after demobilization formed his own seven piece band, working with musicians such as Eddie Calvert and Kenny Baker. In 1958, he had a UK #18 in Record Mirror's Top 20, as Martinas & His Music, with the song 'Cha Cha Momma Brown', a take on the old party favourite 'Knees Up Mother Brown'.

In the 1960s, Slavin composed the musical *Nancy Wake* and was a prolific session musician and music arranger and composer for television and cinema. He scored such diverse films as *Information Received* (1961), *Pit of Darkness* (1961), *Danger by My Side* (1962), *Sherlock Holmes and the Deadly Necklace* (1962), *The Cool Mikado* (1963), *The Wild Affair* (1965), *The Boy Cried Murder* (1966) and the X-rated animated film *Once Upon a Girl* (1976). In 1961 he worked with Helen Shapiro on 'You Don't Know' for Columbia records.

One of his music pieces, 'Space Adventure', was used in the *Doctor Who* serial *The Tenth Planet* as the Cybermen's theme. It was later used in *The Moonbase* and *The Tomb of the Cybermen*. Slavin emigrated to Canada and then Hollywood, continuing to work on film productions such as the adult cartoon *Once Upon a Girl* (1976). He became a musical director on a cruise ship before returning to London in the 1980s. Slavin was killed in a road accident on 25 May 1988, at the age of 66.

Reader's Guide

Martin Slavin's career spanned several decades and media, from leading a seven-piece band in the post-war years to composing for film, television, and stage. His 1958 chart entry 'Cha Cha Momma Brown' under the name Martinas & His Music demonstrated his ability to adapt popular tunes. In the 1960s, he became a prolific session musician and arranger, contributing to a wide variety of films including crime dramas, comedies, and an X-rated animated feature. His most enduring legacy may be his piece 'Space Adventure', which became the iconic theme for the Cybermen in the classic *Doctor Who* serials *The Tenth Planet*, *The Moonbase*, *The Tomb of the Cybermen*, and *The Web of Fear*. Slavin's later years included emigration to Canada and Hollywood, work on an adult cartoon, and a stint as a musical director on a cruise ship before returning to London. His death in a road accident at age 66 cut short a versatile career that touched popular music, film scoring, and television.

Did You Know?

• Slavin served in the army as a Band Sergeant before forming his own seven-piece band.
• His 1958 single 'Cha Cha Momma Brown' reached UK #18 in Record Mirror's Top 20.
• He composed the musical *Nancy Wake* in the 1960s.
• His piece 'Space Adventure' was used as the Cybermen's theme in the *Doctor Who* serial *The Tenth Planet*.