Fusing honky tonk with a gritty rockabilly backbeat and a fondness for bluegrass, Marty Stuart became one of the most popular country performers of the early '90s, as well-known for his edgy music as he was for his flamboyant, glittery Nudie suits.

The Mississippi-born Stuart was a child prodigy on guitar and mandolin. By the age of 12 he had played with the Sullivans, and by age of 13, he had joined Lester Flatt's band as a guitarist. In 1973, Stuart became Flatt's mandolin player after Roland White left the band, and soon he was also singing lead vocals and harmonies. Stuart remained with Flatt until 1978, when the aging musician disbanded the group becuase of his failing health. Stuart then began working with Doc and Merle Watson. A year later he was invited to join Johnny Cash's band and married Johnny's daughter Cindy; he played with Johnny until 1985.

In 1982, Stuart released his first solo effort, Busy Bee Cafe, which featured an all-star line up of back up musicians including Cash, Earl Scruggs, the Watsons, and Carl Jackson. Stuart left Cash's band for a full-time solo career in 1985, and released an eponymous solo album which yielded four minor hits, including the Top 20 "Arlene." Later in 1986, his marriage disintegrated and he went back to Mississippi to rejoin the Sullivans. Stuart's first album for MCA, Hillbilly Rock, generated several hit singles, including "Don't Leave Her Lonely Too Long" and the title track, his first Top Ten hit. Tempted was his breakthrough album, producing Top Ten hit singles in "Little Things" and the title track. Late in 1991, Stuart duetted with Travis Tritt on the number two hit "The Whiskey Ain't Working " the following year, the two singers embarked on the popular "No Hats Tour." Also in 1992, Stuart released This One's Gonna Hurt You and had two Top Ten hits and three additional Top 20 singles. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1992 and then released a fourth album Love and Luck. In 1995, he released the compilation Marty Party Hit Pack, followed in 1996 by Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best. In 1999, he released The Pilgrim.

By Sandra Brennan