Christopher Anthony John "Chris" Martin (born 2 March 1977) is an English singer-songwriter and instrumentalist, best known as the lead vocalist of the band Coldplay. He is the husband of Hollywood actress Gwyneth Paltrow, with whom he has fathered two children.

Chris Martin was born in Exeter, Devon and is the oldest of five children. His father, Anthony, was a Chartered Accountant, and his mother, Alison, was a music teacher. Martin was raised in Whitestone, Devon and attended Exeter Cathedral School. It was at the prep school that Martin formed his first band, The Rocking Honkies, with Nick Repton & Iwan Gronow. After Exeter Cathedral, Martin boarded at Sherborne School, a boys' independent school in Dorset. At Sherborne, Martin started a blues band called The Rockin' Honkies. Their debut performance was met with boos from the crowd. He also met future Coldplay manager Phil Harvey at the school. Martin continued his studies at University College London, staying at Ramsay Hall where he read Ancient World Studies and graduated with First Class honours in Greek and Latin.

While studying at University College London, Martin met Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Guy Berryman. In January 1998, they formed the rock band Coldplay. The band has had internationally recognised fame and success since their debut album, Parachutes, in 2000. Since then, they have released several further albums/EP's including: A Rush of Blood to the Head, Live 2003, X&Y, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends, Prospekt's March, and LeftRightLeftRightLeft.