Marty Stuart

Marty Stuart was born in Mississippi and gained his musical schooling while touring with Johnny Cash and Lester Flatt. Following Flatt's death in 1979, Marty moved on to work with Vassar Clements and Doc Watson. Marty Stuart recorded his first solo album, Busy Bee Cafe, in 1982. In 1995, he was signed to CBS and released his self-titled debut for the label. His first single, Arlene, went top twenty. Let There Be Country was recorded the following year, but not released until 1992.

Marty signed with MCA in 1988 and released the critically acclaimed Hillbilly Rock in 1989 followed by Tempted in 1990 and his latest This One's Gonna Hurt You in 1992.

Cry, Cry, Cry became a minor hit for Marty in 1989, but it wasn't until 1990 that Marty would hit the big time. Hillbilly Rock and Little Things were both top ten hits and Western Girls reached number twenty. The success continued into 1991. Till I Found You also reached number twenty and Tempted became a top five hit.

Marty began working with Travis Tritt during that same year. That collaboration produced the top two hit The Whiskey Ain't Workin'. Their association has continued into 1992 with the successful No Hats tour and another collaboration effort on the song This One's Gonna Hurt You (For A Long, Long Time).

Marty's latest single, Now That's Country, is another gem penned by Marty. His collaborators and guests on the new album include Johnny Cash, dueting on the song Doin' My Time, Pam Tillis, Prairie Oyster's Joan Besen, Ashley Cleveland, John Jarvis, Paul Kennerley and Harry Stinson.

"After Hillbilly Rock took off, they invited us out to the Opry and Hank Snow, Bill Monroe, Little Jimmy Dickens, Hank Thompson, Porter Wagoner and all the old-timers were there. And Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins--they were the main ones--they all gave me their seal of approval, like 'Stay with what you're doing. We're proud of you.' "

"I'm just now figuring myself out," he explains. "I've just now gotten to the point of playing my kind of music. I've played so many kinds of music with so many people, it was a long way back to my heart and soul. I've got it now. This is rockin' honky tonk music."

Marty's stage show is full of the same high-energy attitudes and style that can be felt on his records. He is also one of country music's greatest historians. Collecting artifacts and pieces of recording history is his passion. Perhaps in a few years another young guitarist will be collecting Marty Stuart mementos.

Writer of this article is unknown.