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Marty Robbins

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Marty Robbins
Robbins in 1966
Born
Martin David Robinson

(1925-09-26)September 26, 1925
Glendale, Arizona, U.S.
DiedDecember 8, 1982(1982-12-08) (aged 57)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
OccupationsMusician, songwriter, actor, NASCAR driver
Years active1948–1982
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)Guitar, piano, dobro, vocals
LabelsColumbia, Decca
Signature

Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and NASCAR racing driver. Robbins was one of the most popular and successful country and western singers for most of his nearly four-decade career,[2][3][4] which spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. He was also an early outlaw country pioneer.[5]

Born in Glendale, Arizona, Robbins taught himself guitar while serving in the United States Navy during World War II, and subsequently drew fame performing in clubs in and around his hometown. In 1956, he released his first No. 1 country song, "Singing the Blues" and one year later, released two more No. 1 hits, "A White Sport Coat" and "The Story of My Life". In 1959, Robbins released his signature song, "El Paso", for which he won the Grammy Award for Best Country & Western Recording. The song began Robbins' association with western balladry, a style which would become a staple of his career. Later releases that drew critical acclaim include "Don't Worry", "Big Iron" and "Honkytonk Man", the last for which the 1982 Clint Eastwood film is named, and in which Robbins made his final appearance before death.

Over the course of his career, Robbins recorded more than 500 songs and 60 albums, and won two Grammy Awards, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was named the 1960s Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music. Robbins was a commercial success in both the country and pop genres, and his songs were covered by many other famous artists, including Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead and Elvis Presley. His music continues to have an influence in pop culture today, having recently appeared in several contemporary pop culture features, including the video game Fallout: New Vegas, and the series finale of AMC's Breaking Bad.

Biography

The F.M. Staggs/ Marty Robbins House in Glendale, Arizona

Robbins was born in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. His mother was mostly of Paiute Indian heritage.[6] Robbins grew up in a difficult family situation. His father took odd jobs to support the family of 10 children; however, his hard drinking led to divorce in 1937. Among his warmer memories of his childhood, Robbins recalled having listened to stories of the American West told by his maternal grandfather, Texas Bob Heckle, who was a local medicine man.[7] At 17, Robbins left his troubled home to serve in the United States Navy as an LCT coxswain during World War II. He was stationed in the Solomon Islands in the Pacific Ocean. To pass the time during the war, he learned to play the guitar, started writing songs,[8] and came to love Hawaiian music.

Robbins married Marizona "Mari" Baldwin (1930 - 2001) [9] on September 27, 1948. They had two children, Ronny and Janet, and were married 34 years until his death.

After his discharge from the military in 1947 and his marriage the following year, Robbins began to play at local venues in Phoenix,[8] then moved on to host his own show on KTYL and then his own television show on KPHO-TV in Phoenix. After Little Jimmy Dickens made a guest appearance on Robbins' TV show, Dickens got Robbins a record deal with Columbia Records.

Robbins became known for his appearances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee. Music journalist Mary Harron wrote the following about him in The Guardian:[10]

Robbins was a symbol of the Nashville establishment that younger country fans abandoned in the Seventies for the bleached-denim "outlaw school" of Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. Robbins belonged to the Jim Reeves era and wore his embroidered cowboy suits proudly. Best known for the western ballad, El Paso, his career also touched the rock 'n' roll side of country in songs like White Sports Coat And A Pink Carnation, and he kept a touch of the dude about him to the end.

In 1980, Robbins appeared on the PBS music program Austin City Limits (season 5). In addition to his recordings and performances, Robbins was an avid race car driver, competing in 35 career NASCAR Grand National Series races with six top-10 finishes,[11] including the 1973 Firecracker 400.[12] In 1967, Robbins played himself in the car racing film Hell on Wheels.[13] Robbins was partial to Dodges prepared by NASCAR Hall-of-Famer Cotton Owens, and owned and raced Chargers and then a 1978 Dodge Magnum. He was also the driver of the 60th Indianapolis 500 Buick Century pace car in 1976. His last race was in a Junior Johnson-built 1982 Buick Regal in the Atlanta Journal 500 on November 7, 1982, a month before his death.

Robbins developed cardiovascular disease early in life. After his third heart attack on December 2, 1982, he underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery. He did not recover and died six days later, on December 8, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. He was 57 years old.[14]

Music and honors

Although by 1960 Robbins' output was largely country music, his initial hits like "Singing the Blues", "Knee Deep in the Blues", "The Story of My Life", "She Was Only Seventeen", and "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" were generally regarded as more pop/teen idol material than his hits from 1960 onwards ("El Paso" etc.). His 1957 recording of "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation"[8] sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold record.[15] His musical accomplishments include the Grammy Award for his 1959 hit and signature song "El Paso", taken from his album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. "El Paso" was his first song to hit No. 1 on the pop chart in the 1960s. It was followed up, successfully, by "Don't Worry", which reached No. 3 on the pop chart in 1961, becoming his third, and last, Top 10 pop hit. "El Paso" was followed by one prequel and one sequel: "Feleena (From El Paso)" and "El Paso City". Also in 1961, Robbins wrote the words and music and recorded "I Told the Brook,"[16] a ballad later recorded by Billy Thorpe.

He won the Grammy Award for the Best Country & Western Recording 1961 for his follow-up album More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, and was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1970, for "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife". Robbins was named Artist of the Decade (1960–1969) by the Academy of Country Music, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982, was rewarded three awards at the 17th Annual Music City News Country Awards in 1983, and was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998 for his song "El Paso".

When Robbins was recording his 1961 hit "Don't Worry", session guitarist Grady Martin accidentally created the electric guitar "fuzz" effect – his six-string bass was run through a faulty channel in a mixing console. Robbins decided to keep it in the final version.[17] The song reached No. 1 on the country chart, and No. 3 on the pop chart.[18] Robbins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975. For his contribution to the recording industry, Robbins has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard.

Robbins has been honored by many bands, including the Grateful Dead who covered "El Paso" and Bob Weir & Kingfish who covered "Big Iron". The Who's 2006 album Endless Wire includes the song "God Speaks of Marty Robbins". The song's composer, Pete Townshend, explained that the song is about God deciding to create the universe just so he can hear some music, "and most of all, one of his best creations, Marty Robbins."[19] The Beasts of Bourbon released a song called "The Day Marty Robbins Died" on their 1984 debut album The Axeman's Jazz. Both Frankie Laine and Elvis Presley, among others, recorded versions of Robbins' song "You Gave Me a Mountain", with Laine's recording reaching the pop and adult contemporary charts in 1969. Though Elvis never recorded any of Robbins' songs in the studio, he was a big fan and recorded "You Gave Me a Mountain" live in concert several times; it appeared on 15 Presley albums. Johnny Cash recorded a version of "Big Iron" as part of his American Recordings series, which is included in the Cash Unearthed box set. Cash also recorded other songs by Robbins, including "I Couldn't Keep From Crying", "Kate" and "Song Of The Patriot". He held Robbins in high esteem, having him guest several times on his network TV show. "Big Iron" was also covered by Mike Ness on his album Under the Influences, on which he paid homage to country music artists. The song, originally released on Robbins' 1959 album Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, gained renewed popularity following its use in the video game Fallout: New Vegas.

His song "El Paso" was featured in the series finale of the AMC TV series Breaking Bad. 'El Paso' was also featured in the Only Fools and Horses prequel made by the BBC.

Robbins was awarded an honorary degree by Northern Arizona University.

In 2016, a portion of Glendale Avenue in Robbins' hometown of Glendale, Arizona was renamed "Marty Robbins Boulevard".

Political views

Marty Robbins was strongly conservative in his political views. He supported Barry Goldwater in his 1964 United States presidential election campaign as a southern director for "Stars for Barry". Two of his songs, Ain't I Right and My Own Native Land were rejected by Columbia Records as too controversial.[citation needed] The lyrics of Ain't I Right describe anti-war protesters as communists.[20] After Columbia Records rejected the songs, Robbins' band member Bobby Sykes recorded the songs for Sims Records under the name Johnny Freedom.[21]

NASCAR

NASCAR Cup Series career
35 races run over 13 years
Best finish48th (1974)
First race1966 Nashville 400 (Nashville)
Last race1982 Atlanta Journal 500 (Atlanta)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 6 0
NASCAR Grand National East Series career
1 race run over 1 year
First race1972 Gamecock 200 (Columbia)
Last race1972 Gamecock 200 (Columbia)
Wins Top tens Poles
0 1 0
Statistics current as of August 19, 2016.

Robbins loved NASCAR racing. With his musical successes, he was able to finance his avocation. Robbins always tried to run at the big race tracks (Talladega Superspeedway, Daytona International Speedway) every year and a smattering of the smaller races when time permitted. Robbins had 6 top-ten finishes in his career, with a personal best top 5 finish at the 1974 Motor State 360 in Michigan.[22]

Robbins' cars were built and maintained by Cotton Owens. They were painted two-toned magenta and chartreuse, usually carrying car number 42 (though 6, 22, and 777 were also used). Over the years, he ran a few makes and models (Plymouths, Dodges or Fords) before buying a 1972-bodied Dodge Charger from Owens. Robbins had a few major wrecks during the 1970s, and he had Owens rebuild the car to update the sheet metal to the 1973–1974 Charger specifications, and then finally 1978 Dodge Magnum sheet metal, which he raced until the end of 1980. Robbins' final NASCAR race car was a 1981 Buick Regal that he rented and drove in a few races in 1981 and 1982.

In 1972, at the Winston 500, Robbins stunned the competition by turning laps that were 15 mph faster than his qualifying time. After the race, NASCAR tried to bestow the Rookie of the Race award, but he would not accept it. He had knocked the NASCAR-mandated restrictors out of his carburetor and admitted he "just wanted to see what it was like to run up front for once."[23]

Robbins is credited with possibly saving Richard Childress' life at the 1974 Charlotte 500 by deliberately crashing into a wall rather than t-bone (broadside) Childress's car that was stopped across the track.[24]

In 1983, one year after Robbins' death, NASCAR honored him by naming the annual race at Fairgrounds Speedway the Marty Robbins 420.

Robbins' Dodge Magnum was restored by Owens and donated to the Talladega Museum by his family, and was displayed there from 1983 to 2008. The car is now in private hands in Southern California and raced on the Vintage NASCAR club circuit.

In 2014, Robbins' 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona was featured on an episode of Discovery Channels TV show Fat and Furious: Rolling Thunder. In that same year, an episode of Velocity's AmeriCarna featured ex-race team owner Ray Evernham spearheading the restoration of another of Robbins' NASCAR racers, a 1964 Plymouth Belvedere.

For the 2016 Darlington throwback weekend, Kyle Larson's No. 42 NASCAR Xfinity Series car was painted purple and gold in honor of Robbins. For the 2021 running, Tyler Reddick's RCR #8 Nascar Cup car carries Robbins' signature magenta and chartreuse livery.

Discography

Main article: Marty Robbins discography

Robbins' discography consists of 52 studio albums, 13 compilation albums, and 100 singles. In his career, Robbins charted 17 Number One singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, as well as 82 Top 40 singles.

Robbins' highest charting album is 1959's Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs. It charted to #6 on the all-genre Billboard 200, and was also certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. The album's first single, "El Paso", became a hit on both the country and pop charts, charting to Number One on the Hot Country Songs as well as the Billboard Hot 100. While that would be his only pop Number One, in 1957, "A White Sport Coat" charted to #2, and in 1961, "Don't Worry" charted to #3.

His final Top 10 single was "Honkytonk Man" from the 1982 eponymous film in which Robbins had a role. He died shortly before its release. Since his death, four posthumous studio albums have been released, but they made no impact on the charts.

Motorsports career results

NASCAR

(key) (Bold – Pole position awarded by qualifying time. Italics – Pole position earned by points standings or practice time. * – Most laps led.)

Grand National Series

NASCAR Grand National Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 NGNC Pts
1966 David Warren 53 Ford AUG RSD DAY DAY DAY CAR BRI ATL HCY CLB GPS BGS NWS MAR DAR LGY MGR MON RCH CLT DTS ASH PIF SMR AWS BLV GPS DAY ODS BRR OXF FON ISP BRI SMR NSV
25 		ATL CLB AWS BLV BGS DAR HCY RCH HBO MAR NWS CLT CAR 122nd 20
1968 Dick Behling 32 Dodge MGR MGY RSD DAY BRI RCH ATL HCY GPS CLB NWS MAR AUG AWS DAR BLV LGY CLT ASH MGR SMR BIR CAR GPS DAY ISP OXF FDA TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB BGS AWS SBO LGY DAR HCY RCH BLV HBO MAR NWS AUG CLT
12 		CAR JFC 78th 0
1970 Robbins Enterprises 42 Dodge RSD DAY DAY DAY RCH CAR SVH ATL BRI TAL NWS CLB DAR BLV LGY CLT SMR MAR MCH RSD HCY KPT GPS DAY AST TPN TRN BRI SMR NSV ATL CLB ONA MCH TAL BGS SBO DAR HCY RCH DOV NCF NWS CLT
32 		MAR MGR CAR LGY 94th 57
1971 RSD DAY DAY DAY ONT RCH CAR HCY BRI ATL CLB GPS SMR NWS MAR DAR SBO TAL ASH KPT CLT
15 		DOV MCH RSD HOU GPS DAY BRI AST ISP TRN NSV ATL
13 		BGS ONA MCH TAL CLB HCY DAR
7 		MAR CLT
37 		DOV CAR MGR RCH NWS TWS
25 		69th 120

Winston Cup Series

NASCAR Winston Cup Series results
Year Team No. Make 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 NWCC Pts
1972 Robbins Racing 42 Dodge RSD DAY RCH ONT
8 		CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL
50 		CLT DOV MCH RSD TWS
40 		DAY BRI TRN ATL TAL MCH NSV DAR
9 		RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR
26 		TWS 54th 860.8
1973 RSD DAY
34 		RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV CLT DOV TWS
29 		RSD MCH DAY
8 		BRI ATL TAL
36 		NSV DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT CAR 83rd 828.80
1974 RSD DAY RCH CAR BRI ATL DAR NWS MAR TAL
15 		NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH
5 		DAY BRI NSV ATL POC TAL
9 		MCH DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR CLT
42 		CAR ONT 48th 23.78
1975 RSD DAY
39 		RCH CAR BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL
31 		NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH DAR DOV NWS MAR CLT RCH CAR BRI ATL ONT 81st 121
1976 RSD DAY CAR RCH BRI ATL NWS DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT
DNQ 		NA –
1977 RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL NWS DAR BRI MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT RSD MCH
13 		DAY NSV POC TAL
38 		MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 77th 173
1978 RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL DOV CLT NSV RSD MCH DAY NSV POC TAL
18 		MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR NWS CLT CAR ATL ONT 85th 109
1979 RSD DAY CAR RCH ATL NWS BRI DAR MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH
35 		DAY NSV POC 70th 207
36 TAL
32
6 MCH
27 		BRI DAR RCH DOV MAR CLT NWS CAR ATL ONT
1980 RSD DAY RCH CAR ATL BRI DAR NWS MAR TAL
33 		NSV DOV CLT TWS RSD MCH TAL
13 		MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS MAR 71st 204
Warren Racing 79 DAY
30 		NSV POC
M.C. Anderson Racing 6 Chevrolet CLT
32 		CAR ATL ONT
1982 Robbins Racing 22 Buick DAY RCH BRI ATL CAR DAR NWS MAR TAL NSV DOV CLT POC RSD MCH DAY
37 		NSV POC TAL MCH BRI DAR RCH DOV NWS CLT MAR CAR ATL
33 		RSD 79th 116
Daytona 500
Year Team Manufacturer Start Finish
1973 Robbins Racing Dodge 37 34
1975 Robbins Racing Dodge 28 39

References

  1. ^ Richard S. Ginell. "Ruby Ann: Rockin' Rollin' Robbins, Vol. 3 – Marty Robbins | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  2. ^ "Marty Robbins Biography". AllMusic, RhythmOne, LLC. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "Marty Robbins Biography". A&E Television Networks, LLC. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  4. ^ "About Marty Robbins". Country Music Television, Inc., a division of Viacom International Inc. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  5. ^ Fraser, Max (2018). "Down in the Hole: Outlaw Country and Outlaw Culture". Southern Cultures. 24 (3): 83–100. doi:10.1353/scu.2018.0034. ISSN 1534-1488.
  6. ^ Pruett, Barbara J. (2007). Marty Robbins: Fast Cars and Country Music. ISBN 9780810860360. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
  7. ^ " Heckle, "Texas Bob (1929). Rhymes of the Frontier. Retrieved October 25, 2014.
  8. ^ a b c Marty Robbins interviewed on the Pop Chronicles (1969)
  9. ^ https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Baldwin-13936
  10. ^ "Marty Robbins: Country Dude of Nashville. By Mary Harron : Articles, reviews and interviews from Rock's Backpages". Retrieved June 25, 2018 – via Rock's Backpages.
  11. ^ "Career Statistics". Racing-Reference.info. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  12. ^ "1973 Medal of Honor Firecracker 400". Racing-Reference.info. July 4, 1973. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  13. ^ "Hell on Wheels". IMDb.com. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  14. ^ Pareles, Jon (December 10, 1982). "Marty Robbins, Singer, 57; Won a Grammy for 'El Paso'". New York Times. New York, NY. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  15. ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 95. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  16. ^ I told the brook [music] / [by] Marty Robbins; arr. by Alec Baynes | National Library of Australia. Catalogue.nla.gov.au. 1961. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  17. ^ Diekman, Diane (February 15, 2012). Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins – Diane Diekman – Google Books. ISBN 9780252094200. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  18. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Country Singles 1944–2001
  19. ^ [1] Archived January 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  20. ^ "Ain't I Right?". lyricfind.com. lyricfind. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  21. ^ Diekman, Diane (2012). Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins. University of Illinois Press. p. 99. ISBN 978-0252081255.
  22. ^ "1974 Motor State 360". racing-reference.info. June 16, 1974. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  23. ^ "Cotton Owens Garage – Drivers". Cotton Owens Garage and Stratatomic LLC. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
  24. ^ "Marty Robbins Saves Life of NASCAR's Richard Childress". Savingcountrymusic.com. February 22, 2013. Retrieved September 11, 2013.

Sources

  • Pruett, Barbara J. "Marty Robbins: Fast Cars and Country Music". Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press. 2007. ISBN 0-8108-6036-8
  • Diekman, Diane "Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins" (Music in American Life). 2012.
  • "Fallout: New Vegas" Big Iron is used on Radio New Vegas, Mojave Music Radio, and Black Mountain Radio.
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