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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMARTIN, Grady(b 17 Jan. '29, Marshall County TN) Guitarist. One of the most flexible of Nashville session musicians, who adapted to any style and played on countless hits in the '50s-60s, helping to create "the Nashville Sound'. He started out in the late '40s, sharing with Jabbo Arrington some electrifying twin-lead guitar work on early records by Little Jimmy Dickens; soon in demand on sessions with Webb Pierce, Red Foley, Carl Smith, Buddy Holly, Bobby Helms, Marty Robbins, Johnny Horton, etc, also led session group the Slewfoot Five on Decca in '50s; sessioned in '60s-70s with Joan Baez, JJ Cale, Steve Goodman and Leon Russell; toured with Willie Nelson and was teaching Merle Haggard to play electric lead. His own LPs incl. The Roaring '20s '57, Big City Lights '59, Touch Of Country '64, all on Decca; also Cowboy on Monument; Slewfoot Five tracks on Guitar Genius: Hank Garland, Grady Martin & Les Paul on Charly UK. |