bill martin was born william wylie macpherson to ian and letitia (letty) and has an older brother, ian. they lived in taransay road, govan, near the fairfield shipyard. martin was educated at govan high school, three years ahead of sir alex ferguson, in 2011, they were both inducted into the inaugural govan high hall of fame. after world war ii, many of the glasgow tenements were pulled down and the macpherson family moved to priesthill, a new housing scheme on the south side of glasgow. having tried, and failed to build a career in the shipyards, martin completed his apprenticeship as a marine engineer. although he had actually written his first song at 10 years of age, it was during his apprenticeship that he heard bobby darin's song "dream lover" which convinced him that his future lay in songwriting.