Biography - MCA Records |
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Spotlighting:
Renaissance Man... Singer.
"I really don't know where I fit in the music business," he says. "I just love to work. There are so many things I enjoy doing...The bottom line for me is to make good music and be the best that I can. I don't worry about where my place is. Actually, for most of my life, I've not fit in, and that's fine by me." Perhaps that's why his legions of admirers far exceed those solely interested in country music. After asking Marty to write some songs with him, action hero Steven Seagal was so taken with his talent and exuberance that Seagal then invited him to appear in his latest film Fire Down Below. The cast of NBC's top-ranked Friends asked Marty to join Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole at "Friends Helping Friends," a benefit gala. The legendary Johnny Cash included Marty on his latest album, where he played alongside Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Experiences like these infuse Marty with new perspectives, enabling him to push his personal envelope. "I sent Petty a check for 50 bucks," he recalls. "I said, 'Here you go, Tom. I think I borrowed at least 50 bucks worth of your sound.'" Marty is one of the "invitation only" guests (others include Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Joe Cocker and Willie Nelson) who joined blues legend B.B. King on King's new duet album, Deuces Wild. Hall of Famer Hank Thompson also included him on his new album, a collaborative project. The list goes on. That's because you can't help taking a shine to Marty, no matter what he's doing. And you can be sure that whatever he's up to, it comes naturally to the versatile entertainer. Everything about Marty Stuart -- from the hand-tailored stagewear to his ever-present mandolin -- is instinctive, drawn from his vast palette of experiences. "I've always been influenced by what I was into at the moment," he says. "I've always enjoyed that, whether they are artists who paint or artists who make music. I love people who are open and people who are evolving at all times." Marty hasn't assembled what could be the largest collection of country music memorabilia in the world because it's trendy. He's done it because he has a genuine interest in preserving the rich heritage of the music he loves so much. He isn't president of the Country Music Foundation because it looks good on a resumé. He does it because he wants to help further the Foundation's role in ensuring that generations to come have a Hall of Fame to visit. For the past 25 years, Marty has made his own contribution to the world of country music. The Mississippi native was only 13 when his mandolin playing landed him a job in Lester Flatt's bluegrass band. Following Flatt's death in 1979, Marty played with fiddler Vassar Cements and acoustic guitar great Doc Watson before beginning a six-year stint with country legend Johnny Cash. The talented singer graduated to his own solo album in 1982 with Busy Bee Cafe on Sugar Hill Records. That led to a deal with Columbia Records and his first top-20 hit in 1985 with "Arlene." Marty moved to MCA Records In 1989, breaking the top 10 for the first time in 1990 with a song and album title that described not only the artist himself but a new direction for country music: Hillbilly Rock, which earned a gold record. His second MCA album, Tempted, was also certified gold and spawned four hits: the title cut, "Little Things," "Till I Found You," and "Burn Me Down." His 1992 duet with Travis Tritt, "The Whiskey Ain't Workin,'" earned the duo Grammy and CMA Awards. That same year, Marty also fulfilled a lifelong dream--becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry, 20 years after his first appearance on the Opry stage at the age of 13. He teamed up again with Tritt for another hit single, "This One's Gonna Hurt You," which also served as the title cut for Marty's third MCA album. He followed this gold effort with the critically acclaimed Love and Luck in 1994, The Marty Party Hit Pack in 1995, and Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best in 1996. Marty's recording efforts aren't limited to his own albums. He won his second Grammy for his performance on "Red Wing," from Asleep At The Wheel's Tribute To The Music Of Bob Wills. He has also contributed his considerable talents to numerous other recording projects. Not only has he become a popular guest vocalist, but he's also in great demand as a musician and songwriter. He collaborated with Clint Black and Matraca Berg to compose Black's chart-topping hit "Still Holding On." He also has cuts by LInda Ronstadt, George Strait, Wynonna, Wade Hayes, John Anderson, and the Del McCoury Band, among others. His critically acclaimed and highly popular "Marty Party" series of specials was launched on TNN in 1994, allowing Marty to play host to a dazzling variety of performers for two years. The high-spirited series inspired a Marvel Comics special edition comic book, "The Marty Party in Space." In 1997, the hard-working singer tackled some new territory. Discovery Channel Online featured a 10-day cross-country tour with Marty, documenting his day to-day activities. He became just the third person in the 150-year history of C.F. Martin & Co. to have a signature guitar. A Fender signature guitar will be introduced in 1998. He jammed with the Hellecasters at the National Association of Music Merchandisers annual convention, spoke to college students at a meeting of the National Association for Campus Activities, and participated in a PBS documentary on Fender Guitars. He joined former Stray Cat Brian Setzer for "Monday Night Concerts At The Ryman" and wrote the music and lyrics for a new theatrical production, "Moon Shine." He also made the trek to the renowned Sundance Film Festival, a journey that led to his role as Executive Producer of Music for the upcoming HiLo Country, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Woody Harrelson. In addition, Marty's skilled eye for photography has publishers interested in a book of his work, and he's begun writing a short story collection. The BBC tapped him for four "Country Club" radio shows, and he put his vast knowledge of country music's past to work as historian for a monthly radio series of Sam's Place specials. With such accomplishments to his credit, it's no wonder Marty is known around the world for his contributions to country music. In fact, the city of Nashville recently reinstituted the Mayor's Metronome Award, presenting it for the first time in 12 years. "Marty Stuart embodies the spirit and character of Nashville," said Mayor Phil Bredesen. "He takes us with him everywhere he goes." And just when you think Marty's plate is surely overflowing, you recall that he's still entertaining country fans at concerts nationwide. His high-energy shows are fun-filled romps that make audiences laugh, clap their hands, stomp their feet, sing along, and beg for more. It's easy to see why this jack-of-all-trades can't be pigeon-holed. In an age of specialization. he continues to "specialize" in diversity. If there's anyone today who can rival Marty Stuart for the title "Country Music's Renaissance Man," they've yet to make their presence known. Marty Stuart, Quoted "I try to keep the right perspective--I keep my feet on the ground and remember what is important. Johnny Cash told me to keep my eye on the big picture, never sweat the small stuff. One of my favorite things to do is sit on the back porch, watch a new day begin and be part of it." "Country music is the language of America. It's common-people music. You know it's accessible; it's true-life blues. It's the kind of music you can play anywhere. Even the most cynical music person can find something genuine in it." (On his hair) "It takes three minutes--You wet it, get in a fast car with the windows down, and then spray it with Aqua Net. Just stay away from open flames." "Rock 'n' roll is just bluegrass hot-wired. The tempo of rock 'n' roll has that fire, but when you unplug it, it's just bluegrass." "I really do love the honky tonk division of country music. To me, that's the natural progression and stretch for me to go. It has an edge to it, and it's a little rowdier. To tell you the truth, I feel right at home with it." "I came into town one day last year, and they had put up those signs all over town, 'From Marty To Marty,' and there was a picture of me and Marty Robbins on a billboard. There's a guy who eats up here at the Waffle House every morning who used to be Marty Robbins' barber. He likes me but he loved Marty Robbins. I walked in, and he said, 'I saw your picture on that billboard. You got a long way to go before you deserve to be up there.'" "Sometimes it takes the rock 'n' rollers to reset our watch around here. The Dirt Band came into town, did the first version of Will The Circle Be Unbroken album, and what they did is uncovered our local gems like Maybelle Carter and Doc Watson and Roy Acuff. They were rock 'n roll at the time--it took a rock 'n roll band to re-surface the soul of Country Music." "I woke up on the road and looked over and there was Willie's bus parked next to ours. The two of us sat on his bus for two hours or more after the show listening to new music he was up to, listening to things I was doing, and just talked it over in general. I went away from there remembering why I do what I do. I'm just trained this way--sometimes I have to go out there to the masters and get re-inspired." "Sometmes I truly feel like I'm the lucky cat. Sometimes I get up, and I have so much creative energy. I feel like God smiles on me a lot. I really love what I do." Quotes About Marty "It's the fulfillment of what Nashville's Old Guard has been saying for years: Stuart's talent and credentials were bound to carry him to stardom."--USA Today "One of the most popular country artists of the '90s, Stuart fused honky tonk with rockabilly and bluegrass, gaining a large following as a result."--L.A. Life "Marty Stuart's ready to do what he really does best...put country, rockabilly and garagey rock together to mess around with each other like kissin' kin out back of the barn."--The Morning Call "This rockabilly, roadhouse and rhythm in blues set is filled with nifty hooks and spirited party"--New York Daily News on Honky Tonkin's What I Do Best "Watching Marty Grow: As vividly as Hank Williams symbolizes the misery in country music, Marty Stuart symbolizes the joy...to see him work and hear him talk is to witness a kid a who is still rapturous over his first big break."--The Nashville Scene "It's because of people like Marty Stuart that country music will survive."--Chicago Country "The only thing that matters is the fire in Stuart's voice, the spirit in his playing, the undeniable charm of the songs."--New Country "On stage Marty mixes virtuoso picking with a keen-edged contemporary style."--Country Music People (U.K.) "Stuart has smarts, taste, great guitar chops, and he's a good-looking cuss...this is his best major-label out yet...The Beatlesish guitar of 'Thanks To You,' the rot-gut Delta blues of 'The Mississippi Mudcat And Sister Sheryl Crow,' and other smart little touches raise What I Do way above country's current crop of corn."--Entertainment Weekly "Stuart Is a dazzling picker and his voice radiates excitement on the funny, up-tempo songs...He's at his best when he takes an obscure old song and turns it into modern country with twangy, Beatlesque guilars and a drawling, reckless vocal."--Washington Post "Marty is among the most gen-yew-wine keepers of the hillbilly torch you're gonna hear today."--Los Angeles Times
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