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Jerry Martin is an American composer renowned for his contributions to video game music, particularly within the Sim franchise. His compositions have played a pivotal role in shaping the auditory landscapes of iconic games like SimCity 3000, The Sims series, and SimCity 4.
Martin’s musical journey began at the age of ten when he commenced music lessons, eventually mastering both guitar and keyboards. He pursued formal education in music composition, earning a Bachelor of Arts from California State University, Hayward, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from the Center for Contemporary Music at Mills College.
In 1985, Martin founded Musicontrol, a company dedicated to original music composition and production. Over the next decade, he composed and produced music for a variety of projects, including video soundtracks and national TV and radio commercials, collaborating with over 90 individual film, video, and ad agency producers on more than 200 different commissions from companies such as AT&T, Toyota, the NBA, and Honda.
Martin’s expertise led him to join the Maxis division of Electronic Arts in 1996 as Studio Audio Director and Lead Composer. During his tenure from 1996 to 2004, he composed and produced music and directed the audio for multi-platinum video game franchises such as The Sims and SimCity.
In 2005, Martin established Jerry Martin Music, through which he continues to explore various professional and personal musical projects. His work remains influential, with compositions that have left an indelible mark on the gaming industry, enhancing the immersive experiences of players worldwide.