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Bluegrass Legend Jimmy Martin Dies
billboard.com ^ | Chris Morris

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


TOPICS: Announcements; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Tennessee
KEYWORDS: bluegrassmusic; jimmymartin; nashville; notbreakingnews; obituary; sneedville; tennessee
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To: joesbucks

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.


81 posted on 05/17/2005 2:43:06 PM PDT by don-o (Don't be a Freeploader. Do the right thing and become a Monthly Donor!)
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

ka ping.


82 posted on 05/17/2005 3:29:03 PM PDT by GVnana
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To: prairiebreeze
When Doc goes.....I will mourn deeply.

You'n me both. He's been THE biggest portion in my musical world since I was just a baby.

83 posted on 05/17/2005 3:33:31 PM PDT by RosieCotton (Pray, hope, and don't worry. - St. Pio)
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To: GVgirl
:(

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.)

84 posted on 05/17/2005 4:49:51 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham ("What in the world happened to Gerard's tag-line?")
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To: joesbucks
Jimmy lived life to the fullest and without question, lived according to his own terms. His life, which was driven by hard work, a fearless spirit, and refreshingly blunt honesty,

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.

85 posted on 05/17/2005 5:33:50 PM PDT by WVNan
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To: Do not dub me shapka broham

Some of the downloads on this thread should turn that frown into a smile.


86 posted on 05/17/2005 7:01:11 PM PDT by GVnana
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To: Morgan's Raider

* bump * & LOL.


87 posted on 05/17/2005 7:04:38 PM PDT by Cboldt
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To: GVgirl
Definitely.

:)

88 posted on 05/17/2005 7:07:26 PM PDT by Do not dub me shapka broham ("What in the world happened to Gerard's tag-line?")
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To: StarCMC
Oh thank you for the Tennessee Stud downloads. I'm partial to the Bil Monroe/Doc Watson version and I haven't heard it in years.

Great folk song. Great storytelling.

89 posted on 05/17/2005 7:09:55 PM PDT by GVnana
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To: GVgirl

You're welcome!


90 posted on 05/17/2005 7:10:40 PM PDT by StarCMC (Free tagline courtesy of JesseJane!)
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To: StarCMC
<---Click here
91 posted on 05/17/2005 7:22:18 PM PDT by WVNan
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To: WVNan; mylife

WOW!!! THAT ROCKS!!!

Thanks!


92 posted on 05/17/2005 7:32:26 PM PDT by StarCMC (Free tagline courtesy of JesseJane!)
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To: StarCMC

Try Susana Baca


93 posted on 05/17/2005 7:36:30 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: mylife; StarCMC

Oops wrong thread! try Susana Baca for the peruvian mountain music


94 posted on 05/17/2005 7:38:44 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: mylife

ROFL - wrong person too! I'm howling!! He he he!


95 posted on 05/17/2005 7:40:34 PM PDT by StarCMC (Free tagline courtesy of JesseJane!)
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To: StarCMC

;) well..Im a DumbA thata way L0L


96 posted on 05/17/2005 7:42:13 PM PDT by mylife (The roar of the masses could be farts)
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To: StarCMC
<----Click here
97 posted on 05/17/2005 7:45:16 PM PDT by WVNan
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To: Senator Pardek

Now I've heard of Doc Watson, but not these other fellas. My bluegrass knowledge is spotty.


98 posted on 05/17/2005 7:46:07 PM PDT by stands2reason (It's 2005, and two wrongs still don't make a right.)
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To: mylife

LMBO!! :o)


99 posted on 05/17/2005 7:47:57 PM PDT by StarCMC (Free tagline courtesy of JesseJane!)
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To: mylife

I prefer no drums -- drums make it sound too "country."

Mandolin, guitar, banjo and fiddle.

What else do you need?


100 posted on 05/17/2005 7:49:58 PM PDT by stands2reason (It's 2005, and two wrongs still don't make a right.)
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