Following the break up of the ERIC MARTIN BAND, vocalist Eric Martin was intent on proving himself as a solo artist and signed to Capitol Records for a deal that would first bear fruit in 1985. The self-titled album released that year included a cover of MICHAEL BOLTON's 'Can't Hold On, Can't Let Go' and Little Steven's 'Lyin' In A Bed Of Fire'. 'Just One Night' was penned by Martin with JOURNEY guitarist NEAL SCHON.

Produced by Danny Kortchmar and Greg Ladanyi, the 'Eric Martin' album featured session players Waddy Wachtel, JOURNEY's Randy Jackson, Paul Shaffer, Rick Marotta and TOTO's guitarist STEVE LUKATHER and was issued in Britain through a licensing deal with the independent Music For Nations label.

'I'm Only Fooling Myself', released in 1987, is interesting in as much as all the songs are from outside writers, including 'These Are The Good Times' by REFUGEE's Myles Hunter and 'Confess' by JOHN WAITE. Other songwriters included Nicky Chin, Paul Gurvitz, Simon Climie, Rob Fisher, Billy Steinberg, Tom Kelly and Dan Hartman. A whole host of top West coast based session musicians were drafted in to play on the record, those involved included drummers Mike Baird of JOURNEY, Mickey Curry of the BRYAN ADAMS band and Vinnie Colaiuta, guitarists Richie Zito, Tim Pierce, MICHAEL LANDAU and Rick Nowells and bassist/keyboardist Arthur Barrow.

Unfortunately, as with the ERIC MARTIN BAND album, the records failed to take off but did give the singer a cult following and the opportunity to tour with EDDIE MONEY and FOREIGNER. His credibility was further assured with a number of contributions to movie soundtrack albums that tended to show Martin was something of a Rocker at heart once off the leash, 'I Can't Stop The Fire' on the 'Teachers' soundtrack being a case in point.

In 1989 Martin was contacted by erstwhile DAVID LEE ROTH and TALAS bassist Billy Sheehan through mutual acquaintance Mike Varney of Shrapnel Records, the pair promptly forming MR. BIG, an outfit that not only enjoyed spectacular success in Japan but scored an American no. 1 single with the ballads 'To Be With You'.

However, with MR. BIG on ice in the late 90's, Martin was tempted to record a brand new solo album and the Bill Wray produced 'Somewhere In The Middle' was released during the Summer of 1998. MR. BIG would finally fold after a 2001 Japanese tour and subsequent live album. Martin wasted no time in delivering the opening shot to mark the resumption of his solo career with the album 'I'm Goin' Sane'. Overall the record displayed a modern Hard Pop-Rock approach, grittier than Martin's previous smoother outings. The band Martin employed for 'I'm Goin' Sane' included guitarist Mark Holley, bassist Mark Chole, keyboard player Paul Dorr and drummer Denise Martin, the latter also happening to be Martin's wife. This band unit put on a rare UK show at the British 'Gods' AOR festival.

The record would witness a European re-issue of note through the Italian Frontiers label in August. Not only was the album clad in all new artwork but delivered a different track listing, replacing the tracks 'Fly' and 'Carnival Of Souls' with a cover version of THE CARS 'Just What I Needed' and an original in 'Only A Moment Away'. A live acoustic album 'Pure' arrived in Japan in November.

The singer contributed his version of 'Cheer Up' to the Japanese release 'Sincerely 2 - Mariya Takeuchi Song Book' album in 2003. Martin also came to attention outside of his priority solo activities, portraying the character "Mr. Niko" for a 2004 GENIUS outing 'In Search of The Little Prince'. January of 2004 found Martin in the studio sessioning for B'Z guitarist TAK MATSUMOTO's solo album, released as TMG and spawning a large scale Japanese tour. In early 2005 Martin guested on new recordings for Classic Rockers MONTROSE.

On February 3rd 2007 Eric Martin, together with Matthew and Gunnar Nelson of NELSON, Mark Slaughter of SLAUGHTER, JANI LANE of WARRANT and KELLY KEAGY of NIGHT RANGER, performed under the SCRAP METAL banner for an MTV filmed concert at the Mohegan Sun Hotel & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

A stripped down acoustic version of 'Just Take My Heart' was contributed to the 'VH1 Metal Mania Stripped Volume 3' compilation album issued through Sidewinder Music in March 2007. Gigs in Argentina and Brazil followed in April.

Rock Candy Records re-issued the 1987 set 'I'm Only Fooling Myself' in 2008. That November Sony Music in Japan released the latest ERIC MARTIN album, 'Mr. Vocalist'. Unusually, this set comprised the singer covering tracks that had previously been Pop hits for female Japanese singers. A second set, 'Mr. Vocalist 2', emerged in March 2009.