You can watch and listen to a young Johnny Cash sing
I Got Stripes/Five Feet High from 1959
On the OTV CLASSIC OLDIES VIDEO JUKE BOX J77 (link on main page)
About Marty Robbins
Born Martin David Robinson, September 26, 1925, in Glendale, AZ; died of a heart attack, December 8, 1982, in Nashville, TN; son of Jack Joe and Emma (Heckler) Robinson; married Marizona Baldwin, 1945; children: Ronnie (son), Janet.
RATE MARTY ROBBINS "EL PASO"
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Versatile singer and songwriter Marty Robbins was one of the artists most successful at adding western flavor to his country hits. Over a recording career that lasted roughly thirty years, he scored smashes with such songs as "Singing the Blues," "El Paso," "Devil Woman," and "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife." Robbins also had hits in the rock and pop genres--including the classic "White Sport Coat"--in addition to recording Hawaiian, Caribbean, and gospel music. He won Grammys and several songwriting awards for his efforts and was a frequent performer at the Grand Ole Opry until his death in 1982.
Marty Robbins was born September 26, 1925, in Glendale, Arizona. His childhood was spent in a desert area where he received little exposure to music. Thus Robbins was particularly influenced by his father, who played the harmonica for Marty and his siblings, and his grandfather, Texas Bob Heckle, a traveling medicine man who told stories and sang songs about cowboys. Irwin Stambler and Grelun Landon quoted Robbins on the subject of his grandfather in their book The Encyclopedia of Folk, Country, and Western Music: "A lot of the songs I've written ... were brought about because of stories he told me. Like 'Big Iron' I wrote because he was a Texas Ranger. At least he told me he was." Robbins also enjoyed going to see western movies as a child, and he idolized singing cowboy star Gene Autry.
It wasn't until he enlisted in the Navy at the age of 19 that Robbins began to actively pursue his ambition to follow in Autry's footsteps. While off duty, he learned to play the guitar and quickly began writing songs for the instrument. At the end of his three-year hitch, Robbins returned to Phoenix, Arizona, where his family had moved when he was twelve. A friend asked Robbins to play with his group, and, though he gratefully accepted, he soon realized he was able to sing and decided to form his own band. Robbins and the K-Bar Cowboys performed in Phoenix-area clubs, eventually landing a job on a local radio show. It wasn't long before the station's television affiliate recruited Robbins to host his own musical variety show, Western Caravan.
Though Western Caravan was a local television program, it was important enough to attract guests like country star Little Jimmy Dickens, who noticed Robbins's talent. Dickens suggested that Columbia, his own record label, audition the young musician. The company sent one of its executives to hear Robbins perform, and he was signed as a Columbia act in 1951. Robbins didn't create much of a stir with his first two singles, but Columbia had faith in their new discovery and continued to release his efforts. Finally Robbins began climbing the country charts with "I'll Go It Alone" and "I Couldn't Keep From Crying." Because these hits were Robbins's own compositions, he attracted the attention of Acuff-Rose Music Publishing, who signed him to a songwriting contract. Promoters for the Grand Ole Opry had also noticed Robbins, and by 1953 he had become a regular performer on its stage.
Island music was a favorite of Robbins's, and in 1953 he recorded the first of what would prove to be many Hawaiian and Caribbean songs. Country Music' s Rich Kienzle described him as "a peerless Hawaiian-style vocalist, able to handle even falsetto singing." Robbins went on to record two complete albums of Hawaiian music-- Song of the Islands, released in 1957, and the 1963 release Hawaii's Calling Me.
Marty Robbins scored his first Number One country hit in 1956 with "Singing the Blues." The following year, however, he became famous with pop fans nationwide when he released the smash "White Sport Coat." Another of his own compositions, Robbins recorded the hit in New York with producer Mitch Miller and arranger Ray Conniff during the first of several sessions he had with the pair over the course of two years. He followed up this success with the singles "She Was Only Seventeen" and "Stairway of Love," but it was not until 1959 that Robbins gave audiences his best-remembered, trademark hit, "El Paso." One of Robbins's many story songs, "El Paso" concerns a young man who shoots another man over a Mexican dancing girl. He flees, but is unable to stay away from the dancer and returns, only to be shot by a posse and die in the woman's arms. "El Paso" not only garnered Robbins his first Grammy Award, but received the first Grammy ever awarded in the country and western category.
The western storytelling tunes and bluesy country love songs continued to do well for Robbins during the 1960s. He had hits with "Big Iron" in 1960, "Don't Worry" in 1961, the melodious "Devil Woman" in 1962, and "The Cowboy in the Continental Suit" in 1964. In a testament to Robbins's ability to write, sing, and play, Fred Dellar and Roy Thompson, in their book The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Country Music, deemed Robbins "a first-rate songwriter," allowing, "his musical versatility is astonishing." Robbins also had smashes with other writers' efforts, including "Ruby Ann," "Ribbon of Darkness," and "Tonight, Carmen."
In addition to music, the multitalented Robbins also extended his versatility into the acting realm. He proved a competent performer in that arena as well, appearing in several westerns, including Buffalo Gun --his first film, released in 1962-- Ballad of a Gunfighter, and The Gun and the Gavel. His last film appearance was a cameo role in the 1982 film Honkytonk Man, starring Clint Eastwood.
In the late 1960s Robbins suffered a massive heart attack, and underwent bypass surgery in 1970--according to some reports he was only the fifteenth patient ever to have the operation. He recovered quickly, though, and later that year came back with his second Grammy-winning single, the love ballad "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife." He even managed to tour extensively during the 1970s, performing in England, Australia, and Japan.
Marty Robbins had many interests, including cattle ranching and, as owner of several record labels and a movie production company, the business side of the music and film industries. His favorite, however, was stock car racing, which he took up in the 1960s. Robbins refused to let his heart trouble keep him from pursuing his hobby, and by 1972 he was competing professionally in National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) races against well-known race drivers. He did so well, in fact, that he was named Rookie of the Southern 500 by NASCAR that same year. In 1974, however, Robbins was involved in three bad racing accidents--reportedly in one of them, he deliberately drove into a wall in order to avoid broadsiding another driver--and he decided to rededicate himself to the music business.
Marty Robbins released another successful single in 1976 with "El Paso City," a kind of sequel to "El Paso." Although "El Paso City" was Robbins's last real hit, he continued to be an active recording artist and performed at the Grand Ole Opry almost until his death from another massive heart attack on December 8, 1982.
About The Johnny Cash Show During the late sixties and seventies,
with burgeoning UHF stations adding more choices, with a motel chain as sponsor,
the CMS syndicated shows starring Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton,
Bobby Vinton, and Marty Robbins who got his own half hour show in national
syndication (we are negotiating for musical clips from that show since we get
so much great feedback on Marty). The shows usually ran on independent stations,
but in the 80's, they were presented on Public Television stations in certain markets
(areas).
presented by OLDIES TELEVISION
Viewer Comments
8.27.10 GySgtCarter, Elgin, TX Anything by Marty is the cream of the crop
8.25.10 Bunker100, Ontario, Canada one of my favorites
8.22.10 Rednekroad, Woodside, CA Marty Robbins, none just as good
8.14.10 Billy Red, HSV, AL Outstanding!
7.26.10 Carol, Silver Spring, MD Loved Marty, never knew most of the above info, thx. Favorite was "Devil Woman." Sad he died so young.
7.25.10 longstory2short, Philadelphia, PA Loved this many from day one!
Such a sexy voice, I could listen to him 24-7. I loved all of his songs.
Sad about his passing. :(
7.01.10
6.22.10 JHarding57, TX He had a beautiful voice and I loved his songs
6.22.10 Furman, SC I Met him in Darlington Race Track when he drove for NASCAR. Great Man!!
6.22.10 GPS, MI Was fortunate to see MR perform; I have his tapes, etc.
6.19.10 FloCorp, NC Greatest Western Song. Fantastic
6.16.10 CBeaver, Canada Great singer. Awesome.
6.14.10 eddiginsburg, KY Loved that song for years
6.08.10 hubbldia, CA one of my favorite singers.
6.08.10 T.Erwin D., TX one of my all time favorites
6.08.10 Cartrain, WA My dad met Robbins in Vegas in the 70s and found him to be very nice. My dad hadn't herd of him before the meeting but after you couldn't walk into my dads house without Marty on the old HiFi.
6.07.10 Ray F. NV He was the best
6.06.10 funflyingguy, OH One of the best
6.02.10chevy55, VA My favorite, "A White Sports Coat."
