Christopher Martin is ‘a lover from birth’

While February 14 is known internationally as the day of love, local superstar Christopher Martin says that being born on the day makes him a certified lover boy.

Cheekily, he shared, "It's a very special day and it's a good conversation starter being born on Valentine's Day. 'When is your birthday?', 'Valentine's Day?', 'A lie you a tell', and then I can say that's why I am the way I am because I'm a lover from birth."

Born and raised in Back Pasture, St Catherine, Martin will be celebrating his 36th birthday as the world indulges on roses, flowers and romance.

Before being known as a sweet-voiced heart throb, Martin was a contestant in the local singing competition Digicel Rising Stars. He told THE STAR that during that era before he became a household name, he had some favourite birthday traditions.

"One thing that I always looked forward to every birthday was my mother baking a cake for me. If me nuh get nothing at all, mi know Cheeny a go bake a cake fi mi, yuh understand," he said chuckling at the memory.

"I've always been thankful for simple blessings. Nothing nuh frighten me, never. So I wouldn't say [I had] interesting birthdays but the love was definitely there. I felt the love every day but more so on my birthday, 'cause you done know a di full revolution that. It come round and even though they couldn't do what they wanted to do for me, them make me understand seh on this day, February 14, mi love yuh so if a even mi last mi affi guh take fi make you get this cake, you ago get this cake yah. Every year," he added.

Post-victory in the 2005 edition of the talent competition, Martin said the cakes were few and far between, but the love never waned, especially from the women.

"Female attention is nice man. It's nice to be loved. It's nice to be noticed and appreciated for who you are and for the talent that the Almighty has blessed you with. I feel like there are a lot of people that are very talented, that have not got the opportunity to showcase their talent and to be really loved for what they can do or what they have to offer. So for me to be in this place and in this space, it is definitely a blessing," he said.

Acknowledging the distinction between love and lust, Martin said laughing, "I welcome all of it, it comes with the package. And that is why you affi just understand is a thin line. We take everything man."

Like their father, the singer-songwriter told THE STAR that his daughters have also got used to their dad being a big deal to women.

"Dem know dem love daddy man and dem know seh daddy sing love songs. Dem know seh daddy was born on Valentine's Day so dem know daddy is a lover from birth. So it comes with the territory," he said. With a near two-decade long career, Martin said he is an open book. But when it comes to his love life, those pages are in the restricted section.

"That now a one of the thing dem weh you affi just keep close to your heart," he said. "Majority of my life is public knowledge but dem part deh, a di part dem now weh you keep dear to you. People nuh really love fi see a good thing going so you haffi just keep the good things to yourself sometimes."