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Posted on 05/16/2005 6:43:59 PM PDT by T. Buzzard Trueblood
May 16, 2005, 10:30 AM ET
Jimmy Martin, one of the greatest vocalists in bluegrass, died Saturday (May 14) in a Nashville hospice where he was battling bladder cancer. He was 77.
In 1949, Martin replaced Mac Wiseman in Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, the premier bluegrass group, and served as the group's guitarist and lead vocalist until 1954. His tenor vocals were featured on many of the Monroe band's recordings for Decca -- perhaps most memorably on the gospel sides collected in 1969 on "A Voice From on High."
After recording with the Osborne Brothers in the mid-'50s, Martin founded his own group, the Sunny Mountain Boys. This band, which included such leaders in their own right as J.D. Crowe and Doyle Lawson, recorded such bluegrass standards as "Rock Hearts," "Widow Maker" and "The Sunny Side of the Mountain."
In 1972, Martin joined such other country and bluegrass legends as Maybelle Carter, Doc Watson, Roy Acuff and Earl Scruggs on the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's album "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," a landmark merger of rock and country talent. In the early 1980s, Martin founded his own label, King of Bluegrass.
The oft-irascible musician was profiled in Tom Piazza's 1999 book "True Adventures With the King of Bluegrass" and George Goehl's 2003 film "King of Bluegrass: The Life & Times of Jimmy Martin."
Martin's funeral will be held Wednesday at the Cornerstone Church in Madison, Tenn.
-- Chris Morris, The Hollywood Reporter
Nice post. Fortunate I am to live in the "Birthplace of Country Music." and they are playing a lot of Jimmy this afternoon; plus Tim White has quite a few interviews he had done over the hours.
ka ping.
You'n me both. He's been THE biggest portion in my musical world since I was just a baby.
Thanks for the ping, though.
I appreciate it.
I love bluegrass/roots/folk-and old-fashioned country-music.
I suppose most of the old-timers are getting up there in years.
I enjoyed the obituary for Sam Phillips that the Jim Lehrer News Hour ran when he died, several years ago.
Hopefully, this musician's legacy will receive a similarly respectful hearing.
-good times, G.J.P. (Jr.)
Having known Jimmy for more years than I care to admit, I can attest to that statement, especially the "blunt honesty" part. He knew how he wanted the music and he suffered no prima donnas in his band. Consequently, the band members never lasted very long. He used to joke when he took the stage: "I'm Jimmy Martin and I'd like for you to make welcome The Sunny Mountain Boys of 1976 (or 77,78,79,80)." Just about every Bluegrass musician alive during the 60s,70s,80s,90s, at one time or another played with Jimmy Martin. My husband's band, Lower Forty Grass, played many a Bluegrass festival with Jimmy. Another one of the "great ones" has passed on.
Some of the downloads on this thread should turn that frown into a smile.
* bump * & LOL.
:)
Great folk song. Great storytelling.
You're welcome!
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WOW!!! THAT ROCKS!!!
Thanks!
Try Susana Baca
Oops wrong thread! try Susana Baca for the peruvian mountain music
ROFL - wrong person too! I'm howling!! He he he!
;) well..Im a DumbA thata way L0L
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Now I've heard of Doc Watson, but not these other fellas. My bluegrass knowledge is spotty.
LMBO!! :o)
I prefer no drums -- drums make it sound too "country."
Mandolin, guitar, banjo and fiddle.
What else do you need?
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