Memory of Benny Martin

Subject: Memory of Benny Martin
From: GUEST,John Clayton
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:33 PM

My friend Sandy Rothman just received an email from Sonny Osborne as to the death of Benny Martin. Sandy said: "...there would almost not be any bluegrass fiddling if he hadn't set the style right after Chubby Wise." Was just listening to Benny sing with Bill Monroe the hymn: "When He Reached Down His Hand For Me". Let's hope he was holding on to that fiddle with the other hand.

Subject: RE: Memory of Benny Martin
From: catspaw49
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:43 PM

Yes indeed. Sorry to hear the news. For those not into Bluegrass/Country, here's brief bio.

Benny Martin Bio

Spaw

Subject: RE: Memory of Benny Martin
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 14 Mar 01 - 01:56 PM

Thanks for the info, John Clayton; and thanks for the bio, Spaw. Although I always admired his playing and had no idea that he was a singer and writer also. Funny that good ole "Colonel" Tom Parker tried to package him solely as a singer when his lasting fame came as a master fiddler. You wonder what Elvis would have done if he would have told that old carnival barker to stick with the promoting and stop meddling on the music side of things.

It's a shame that Benny Martin's talent remained under wraps for so many years due to his illness. He should have been able to enjoy the fame that he so richly deserved. Rest peacefully, sir.