September 26, 1925 - December 8, 1982

Marty Robbins was a giant of country music who forged three decades as a vital force in the genre. From 1952 – 1982, Marty invariably journeyed into the top-10 and repeatedly claimed the No. 1 chart position. A singer-songwriter with unparalleled versatility, he easily applied his rich, expressive voice to Hawaiian, pop, Mexican and mainstream country music. Ranked among the all-time country artist, Marty garnered 94 chart singles and stockpiled more than 150 albums. Along the way, he accumulated 47 top-10 songs, including 16 No. 1 singles. In 1982, Robbins was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame; the industry’s highest accolade.

Marty David Robinson was born on September 26, 1925, in Glendale, Arizona. One of his first heroes was Gene Autry. Inspired by Autry, Marty would sing to himself after taking in an Autry movie. At age nineteen, he enlisted in the US Navy and spent three years on a Pacific Island. During his Navy stint, Marty began playing guitar and writing songs. Following his military service, Robbins moved to Phoenix and began playing small clubs in the area. Marty gained a 15-minute spot on radio station KPHO and his popularity flourished. Robbins attracted a considerable following and soon had his own radio and TV program called Western Caravan.

Columbia Records executive Art Satherley heard Robbins singing on the show and offered him a recording contract. On May 25, 1951, the contract was endorsed and Robbins completed his first recording session the following November. I’ll Go On Alone, Marty’s first chart single entered Billboard on December 20, 1952 and went to No. 1. Four years later, Marty was on the charts with Singing the Blues, his biggest song. Written by Melvin Endsley, the song was slated for Hank Williams, but the singer’s tragic death in 1953 nullified Endsley’s plan to give it to him. Instead, it was recorded by Robbins who took it to No. 1 for 13 consecutive weeks. Other giant hits for Marty include, Don’t Worry, The Story of My Life, El Paso and Devil Woman..

Like Jim Reeves, Marty’s songs graced the pop charts almost as often as the country charts. He had 31 crossover hits in all. However, his loyalty was with his country music fans and throughout the 50s and 60s, he remained a steady fixture on the country charts. Robbins had recorded several albums by the mid-60s, including Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs, one of the best-sellers of 1965. In 1972, he was dropped from the Columbia roster and picked up by MCA Records. Robbins then made an unsuccessful attempt with MCA, before returning to Columbia in 1976. By the late-70s, his chart activity had begun to wane and his singles didn’t attain the high chart positions of his early entries

During his career, Marty toured worldwide, performing in such countries as England, Australia and Japan. He loved his fans and always made time to sign autographs. During an Opry performance, he was forced to remain on stage 45 minutes by his grateful fans. Life on the road finally took a toll on Marty, who first suffered a heart attack in 1969. He had another heart attack in 1981. Then on December 8, 1982, just two months after his induction into the Hall of Fame, Marty succumbed to a final heart attack.

Marty Robbins personified the best in country music. His devotion to the genre continued until his untimely death. His memory will always remain through the dozens of songs he wrote and hundreds he sang in his strong, natural and authentic voice. Marty’s standout talent is deeply missed, but it greatly ameliorated country music for many-many years.

Marty’s music is readily available. Bear Family Records have released several box sets containing most everything he recorded during his hit-filled years of 1952-1972. Sony Music Entertainment released a 2-CD called The Essential Marty Robbins 1951-1982. This should satisfy an interest in Marty's music, as it contains virtually all of his big numbers including , Big Iron, Don’t Worry, The Story of My Life, El Paso, Devil Woman and My Woman, My Woman, My Wife.

The Essential Marty Robbins 1951-1982 is currently available at

Career Highlights

Birth Place - Glendale, Arizona

Major Record Label - Columbia Records

First Top 10 - I'll Go On Alone (1952)

Biggest Hit - Singing the Blues (1956)

Chart Run 1952 - 1982

47 Top-10 Hits

31 Crossover Hits

Major Awards/Achievements

Inducted Into the Country Music Hall of Fame (1982)

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