Folk singer Martyn dead at age 60

Scottish singer John Martyn, known as much for his folk sound as his hard-drinking image, has died at the age of 60, singer Phil Collins said.

Collins, who had worked alongside Martyn during his musical career, remembered the May You Never star as a great friend, The Scotsman said Friday.

John’s passing is terribly, terribly sad, Collins said. I had known him since the 1970s and he was a great friend.

After first appearing in the music scene in the 1960s, Martyn created such albums as 1973′s Solid Air and 1977′s One World.

The Scotsman said to Martyn, his albums were representative of what was taking place in his life at the time.

Every record I’ve made — bad, good, or indifferent — is autobiographical, he said once. I can look back when I hear a record and recall exactly what was going on. Some people keep diaries; I make records.

The Times of London said Martyn’s substance abuse caused the singer numerous health problems and even resulted in him losing a leg to septicaemia.

Exact details regarding Martyn’s death Thursday were not reported and the singer leaves no identified survivors.