13-year-old musician who was backed with financial support from guitar legend Johnny Marr has now headlined a gig at Salford Lads Club, the venue put on the musical map by The Smiths.
Schoolboy John Denton was chosen last year as the inaugural recipient of the Johnny Marr Award, set up to make a difference to promising young musicians from Salford.
John used the £1,000 grant to help buy a 12-string guitar and pay for vocal and guitar lessons. He also got to meet his benefactor in person as they jammed together backstage at a gig in Yorkshire over the summer – which John described as a “dream come true”.
Earlier this month John and his band, The Height, took their career to the next level as they played a sold-out gig at Salford Lads Club, where Johnny Marr and the Smiths famously posed for an iconic band photo in the 1980s.
Now the Salford Foundation Trust, which set up the Johnny Marr Award, is looking for another talented youngster to be the second worthy recipient of the grant.
The £1,000 award is open to any young person living in Salford who can show that they have the potential to make a career in music.
Entries for the second round of the Johnny Marr Award open on Tuesday, 31 October. It’s a fitting date as it’s also the 40th anniversary of the release of The Smiths’ breakthrough hit ‘This Charming Man’ in 1983 – and Johnny Marr’s 60th birthday.
John Denton said: “The opportunity I’ve had with the Johnny Marr Award has been a dream. I ended up on so much radio, TV and in magazines. That was ok, but the best bit was the chance to actually improve my music with guitar and vocal lessons. I also met Johnny, and he even knew who I was!”
Johnny Marr said: “It has been an absolute pleasure to work with the Salford Foundation Trust to launch this award, and to help John develop his musical career.”
The Johnny Marr Award was launched in October 2022 with initial funding to run for three years. The award is not limited to guitarists or singers like John, and is open to any musical genre or style.
The Salford Foundation Trust, which operates the Johnny Marr Award, has been supporting young people in Salford since 2004 with financial grants aimed at helping children pursue activities and hobbies which their families might not otherwise be able to afford.
Peter Collins CBE, Managing Trustee from The Salford Foundation Trust, said: “We are delighted that John has been able to use the grant funding to such good effect and is already finding success as a musician.
“We are now inviting applications to the second round of the award and are looking for another young person in Salford who has musical ambitions.”
Applications are open from 31 October until 21 November and can be completed here.
Photo credit: Andrew Cotterill
