Marty Stuart: Philadelphia To Nashville, Part 2


This appeared on WTOK.com - February 8, 2012

Philadelphia, Mississippi native Marty Stuart grew up listening to country music and wanting to be a part of that world.

"I used to watch it on television, country music, and listen to it on the radio and on my record player," said Stuart. "I got to see it usually once a year at the Neshoba County Fair. They would bring in country artists, and at the Choctaw Indian Fair people would come from to time."

On television, it was the Porter Waggoner Show. On the record player, it started with Flatt & Scruggs and Johnny Cash. That was the start of putting himself in the country music world.

"It just kind of fit. Playing just kind of worked in my hands," Stuart said.

Stuart taught himself to play guitar and mandolin in Philadelphia. Then he took his talents to Nashville. So I came to Nashville, Music City USA, to put myself in his world. The only face I have seen around town more than Marty's is that of country legend, Dolly Parton.

In fact, his face marks the Country Music Hall of Fame and the historic Grand Ole Opry House.

We got to sit in on the taping of The Marty Stuart Show's 100th weekly episode, a show he uses to hold onto traditional country music

Stuart's show features traditional country music with his own band, The Fabulous Superlatives, and with country singer and wife, Connie Smith.

Marty's special guest was rock & roll hall of famer Roger McGuinn, the lead singer of The Byrds.

"I love playing with Marty Stuart. He's one of my favorite musicians, and he's gotten to know all of Clarence White's licks," said McGuinn. "I used to play with Clarence White back in The Byrds."

The Marty Stuart Show is a jam session each week. So how does he keep things lively?

"I always thought if someone gets bored, it's a personal problem," said Stuart. "I don't have time to get bored. I keep my life jumping. I get up every day like a kid."

By Stephen Bowers


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