On this day (September 26) in 1925, Martin David Robinson was born in Glendale, Arizona. Better known to country music fans as Marty Robbins, he recorded more than 500 songs and 60 albums throughout his four-decade career. While he specialized in narrative-driven country ballads like the 1959 chart-topper “El Paso“, Robbins also dabbled in rockabilly, Hawaiian, gospel, and pop music. A two-time Grammy Award winner and member of the Country Music Hall of Fame, he was also an accomplished NASCAR driver, competing in 35 Grand National Series races with six top 10 showings.
On December 8, 1982, Robbins died of a heart attack at age 57 at a Nashville hospital. Today, we’re exploring his immeasurable legacy on what would have been the country singer’s 101st birthday.
About Marty Robbins
One of nine children, Marty Robbins grew up on a steady diet of country music and Western films. He often worked out in the cotton fields to save enough money for a ticket to the latest Gene Autry movie.
“I wanted to be the cowboy singer, simply because Autry was my favorite singer,” Robbins said. “No one else inspired me.”…