Behind many of modern music’s big names stood one woman.

A Grammy-winning powerhouse of making connections, who helped kick-start the careers of Van Morrison, Emmylou Harris, The Band and Leonard Cohen — Toronto’s own Mary Martin just seemed to have a way – that touch.

 

 

From her roots as a fixture on Toronto’s rock ‘ roll scene, she set her sights on New York City in 1963.

That’s when she got a job in the office of Albert Grossman, then manager of some of folk music’s heavyweights like Peter, Paul and Mary and Bob Dylan.

Mary Martin was later credited with setting up a meeting between a yet-to-be-established Montreal native and singer Judy Collins; whose cover of Leonard Cohen’s now legendary ”Suzanne,” changed everything for Cohen.