Johnny Marr, born John Martin Marr on 31 October 1963 in Manchester, is a renowned English musician, songwriter, and singer. Best known as the guitarist and co-songwriter for the Smiths from 1982 to 1987, Marr shaped the band's sound with his distinctive jangle pop guitar style. After the Smiths split, he played with notable bands including the Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, and the Cribs, and worked as a session musician with artists such as Kirsty MacColl, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Bryan Ferry, and Hans Zimmer. Marr later launched a solo career, releasing albums like The Messenger, Playland, and Call the Comet, and published his autobiography Set the Boy Free in 2016. Widely celebrated for his inventive guitar work, Marr has been recognized as one of Britain’s greatest guitarists, receiving the NME Godlike Genius award in 2013.