American country and western singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor Marty Robbins was born Martin David Robinson. He has been a popular performer for almost four decades, best known for the hits “El Paso,” “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife,” and “Among My Souvenirs.” El Paso, for which he won a Grammy Award, was one of his defining tunes, and the single “I’ll Go on Alone” became his first No. 1 country song. While serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he taught himself how to play the guitar. After the war, he pursued a full-time career in music, beginning with his own radio show called “Chuck Wagon Time” and his own regional TV program, “Western Caravan.” Robbins, a two-time Grammy Award winner, has more than 500 songs and 60 albums to his credit. For 19 years running, he had at least one hit song per year. Four of his 94 tracks that he landed on the Country Singles charts by Billboard came out after his passing. In addition to his singing career, he also enjoyed racing cars. He participated in 35 NASCAR Grand National events, finishing in the top 10 six times, including the 1973 Firecracker 400. A month before to his passing, he competed in his final NASCAR race.
Early Childhood & Life
On September 26, 1925, Marty Robbins was born in a desert close to Glendale, a neighborhood of Phoenix, Arizona. He was the sixth child out of nine in his nomadic family.
His father was an alcoholic who frequently committed thefts. His mother consequently had to work hard to provide for the kids. Robbins was twelve when his parents separated.
Only the tales his traveling salesman grandfather, “Texas” Bob Heckle, used to tell him made him happy about his early years. In an interview, Robbins claimed that he used to sing church tunes and tell him stories for him. His grandfather’s tales served as the basis for many of the songs he would compose later; for instance, the song “Big Iron” was based on his grandfather’s adventures as a Texas ranger.
He enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 17 during World War II to get away from his chaotic family. He began creating songs and self-taught guitar playing when he was on the ship. He also started to enjoy Hawaiian music.
Career of Marty Robbins
Marty Robbins started pursuing a singing career and began appearing at neighborhood bars in Phoenix after being released from the Navy in 1947. He soon began hosting his own programs, including Western Caravan on KPHO-TV in Phoenix and Chuck Wagon Time on the local radio station KTYL.
Little Jimmy Dickens, a country music performer who had been on Robbins’ TV program, introduced him to Columbia Records officials and assisted him in signing a contract in 1951. His debut single, “Love Me or Leave Me Alone,” was published the next year, although it did not become popular.
His tune, “I’ll Go on Alone,” proved popular and peaked at number one on the Hot Country Songs chart in 1953. I Couldn’t Keep from Crying was another popular song. As his popularity grew, he was given the opportunity to join the “Grand Ole Opry,” a well-known country radio program, as a regular member.
His song “Singing the Blues” hit the country music charts in 1956. He achieved two more number one singles the following year with “A White Sport Coat” and “The Story of My Life.”
Knee Deep in the Blues and Please Don’t Blame Me, two of his compositions, also achieved success in 1957. El Paso, a song from his 1959 album “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs,” became a huge hit and became his first single to reach number one on the pop list.
Don’t Worry, his single, peaked at number one on the country chart and number three on the pop chart in 1961. His final top 10 pop hit was that one. Guitarist Grady Martin accidentally produced the electric guitar “fuzz” effect when he was recording the song. Robbins liked it and incorporated it into the finished product. He wrote the music and words for his song “I Told the Brook” in the same year.
The computer game “Fallout: New Vegas” featured his song “Big Iron” from the album “Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs,” which increased its recognition. The AMC television show “Breaking Bad” also featured the song “El Paso.”
Robbins had a successful singing career in addition to participating in 35 NASCAR Grand National events. He drove a Dodge Magnum for racing. He had also faced off against Richard Petty and Cale Yarbrough, two NASCAR drivers.
He played himself in the 1967 auto racing movie “Hell on Wheels.” He competed in the Atlanta Journal 500 in November 1982 while operating a Buick Regal that Junior Johnson had manufactured. He would compete in just one more race before passing away a month later.
Bigger Works of Marty Robbins
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs was Marty Robbins’ album with the highest charting position. It received a Platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America and peaked at number 6 on the Billboard 200 list. El Paso, one of its tracks, rose to popularity on both the country and pop charts.
In 1957, he released the track “A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation,” which went on to sell over a million copies and earn a gold record. On the U.S. country chart, it peaked at number 1, while on the U.S. Billboard pop list, it reached at number 2.
Individual Life of Marty Robbins
In 1948, Marty Robbins wed Marizona, and they remained together until his passing. They had a daughter named Janet Robbins and a son named Ronny Robbins.
Robbins experienced a serious heart attack in the 1960s, yet he continued to work. He kept working despite being unwell. In 1982, he released his final song, “Some Memories Won’t Die.” He underwent bypass surgery on December 2, 1982, the day after his third heart attack. After six days, on December 8, he passed away. He was 57.
Marty Robbins Net Worth
One of the wealthiest and most well-known country singers is Marty. According to our research, Marty Robbins has a net worth of $5 million, as reported by Forbes, Wikipedia, and Business Insider.