Martyn Jacques

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Martyn Jacques during a concert
Martyn Jacques during a concert

Martyn Jacques is a British countertenor and accordion player. He is the founder, songwriter and lyricist of the underground band Tiger Lillies.

Notably, he spent 7 years living above a brothel in Soho while training his characteristic falsetto voice. Not only can he sing and play the accordion, but Jaques can also play the guitar and piano.

In his Tiger Lillies appearances, Jacques sings about pimps, prostitutes, drug addicts, losers and other eccentric characters, describing them in great detail.

His songs range from hilarious, dark, up-beat music, even darker, strange and mysterious songs and some cover versions, such as My Funny Valentine and Send in the Clowns.

He is the musical director of the junk opera Shockheaded Peter.

He also made a cameo appearance in the film Exodus, written and directed by Penny Woolcock, in which he plays piano and sings in the background.