8 May 1928, Sparta, Tennessee, USA, d. 13 March 2001, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Martin grew up in a musical family (his father and two sisters played as the Martin Family) and he was taught to play the guitar, mandolin and fiddle as a child - receiving tuition on the latter from Lester Flatt’s father. After making his radio debut on WHUB Cookeville around 1939, he became a member of Big Jeff And The Radio Playboys on theMid-Day Merry-Go-Round at WNOX Knoxville, and in 1942, moved with them to WLAC Nashville. They relocated to Chattanooga, playing WDOD and WAPO, and toured with Bisby’s Comedians tent show, where they worked with Rod Brasfield. In 1946, they returned to WLAC and Martin left the band and joined WSM. He worked briefly as a member of the Musical Millers on the Martha White Show before his musical talents as a fiddle player and vocalist found him in demand. During the late 40s and 50s, he played with many famous acts, including Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (he also played on their Columbia recordings made between November 1952 and August 1953) and Johnny And Jack. He toured extensively, particularly during his time with Roy Acuff with whom he visited Germany in 1949. He made some solo vocal recordings for Mercury Records in the early 50s, and from 1953-60, he was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He had minor US country hits in the 60s, with ‘Rosebuds And You’ and a duet with bluegrass musician Don Reno on the patriotic offering ‘Soldier’s Prayer in Viet Nam’.
Martin, always a popular entertainer, continued to play with various acts throughout the 70s and 80s and recorded albums with several other top instrumentalists, as well as appearing as a guest on many other artists’ albums. TheTennessee Jubilee album, made with John Hartford and Lester Flatt, included his tribute to the early days of bluegrass, ‘Lester, Bill And Me’. It is interesting to remember that, during the 50s, he worked on perfecting an unusual eight-string fiddle, which he often used on the Grand Ole Opry; he was inspired to develop the instrument after playfully using his fiddle bow on Bill Monroe’s mandolin. He had been unwell in recent years, suffering from a heart condition and a speech and sight disease. He died of a heart attack in 2001.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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8 May 1928, Sparta, Tennessee, USA, d. 13 March 2001, Nashville, Tennessee, USA. Martin grew up in a musical family (his father and two sisters played as the Martin Family) and he was taught to play the guitar, mandolin and fiddle as a child - receiving tuition on the latter from Lester Flatt’s father. After making his radio debut on WHUB Cookeville around 1939, he became a member of Big Jeff And The Radio Playboys on theMid-Day Merry-Go-Round at WNOX Knoxville, and in 1942, moved with them to WLAC Nashville. They relocated to Chattanooga, playing WDOD and WAPO, and toured with Bisby’s Comedians tent show, where they worked with Rod Brasfield. In 1946, they returned to WLAC and Martin left the band and joined WSM. He worked briefly as a member of the Musical Millers on the Martha White Show before his musical talents as a fiddle player and vocalist found him in demand. During the late 40s and 50s, he played with many famous acts, including Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs (he also played on their Columbia recordings made between November 1952 and August 1953) and Johnny And Jack. He toured extensively, particularly during his time with Roy Acuff with whom he visited Germany in 1949. He made some solo vocal recordings for Mercury Records in the early 50s, and from 1953-60, he was a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He had minor US country hits in the 60s, with ‘Rosebuds And You’ and a duet with bluegrass musician Don Reno on the patriotic offering ‘Soldier’s Prayer in Viet Nam’.