Mr. Emory Martin, age 89 of Mt. Vernon, KY died Monday, April 17, 2006 at his home. He was born in Bon Aqua, TN on August 26, 1916 the son of Horace and Maude Nichols Martin. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon and was a 50 yr. Mason with the Masonic Lodge.
He gained notoriety as the "World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player" having played at various times with artists such as Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells, Uncle Dave Macon, Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, and others. His first job was with Sid Harkreader on the Grand Ole Opry at age 16. He later recorded on RCA-Victor with Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells. On November 24, 1943 he married fellow performer Wanda "Linda Lou" Arnold in Griffin, GA between shows. He made the Renfro Valley/Mt. Vernon area his home after retiring from performing for years on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He later operated a service station in Renfro Valley with his brother, Curtis, and was later employed by Hysinger Carpet in Mt. Vernon. He loved working with his horses on his farm and enjoyed riding whenever possible. He was a founding member of the Rockcastle Saddle Club in 1968. But most of all, he enjoyed his family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were a great source of joy.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, Linda Martin, he is survived by a son, Roy A. Martin and wife Pamela of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Curtis Martin and wife Maryanne of Green Valley, AZ; three sisters, Ruby Womack of Huntsville, AL, Hattie Hickerson of Franklin, TN; and Helen Turner and husband, John of Green Valley, AZ; three grandchildren, Steve Martin and wife Donnaleah of Mt. Vernon, Gina Masters and husband Jensen of Brodhead, and Alexandra Taylor Martin also of Mt. Vernon; and four great grandchildren, Justice Masters, Ryan Martin, Jett Masters, and Wyatt Martin. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Martin; and a sister, Eva Morgan.
Interment Cresthaven Memorial Cemetery∼Billed as The World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player, Emory Martin transcended novelty status to emerge as one of Nashville's most unique and inspirational musicians, backing country superstars including Kitty Wells and Uncle Dave Macon in addition to regularly appearing on radio's fabled Grand Ole Opry.
Emory Martin, a native of Hickman County, Tennessee, was born on August 26, 1916, the second in a family of seven children. Emory's interest in music was shared by his older sister, Eva, who played guitar and a brother, Kenny, who played guitar and bass with Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell. His parents were a source of musical inspiration.
At age 16, he won a contest on at the Princess Theater (Nashville) playing The Wreck of the Old 97 and was hired on the spot by country pioneer Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, soon after making his Opry debut. Emory worked part-time while trying to finish school, but two years later, he quit school and went full-time. Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, whose career in country music spanned more than a half century, was one of the first performers on the Grand Ole Opry. In the 1920s he recorded more than 50 songs. Some with of his recordings were with Uncle Dave Macon and released on Vocation, Paramount, and other labels.
Martin's first show date with Harkreader was in Harriman, Tennessee. Along with Sid, there were Jewell Fagan, Moody Carroll and Robert Lunn. At the time Harkreader was performing on the Grand Ole Opry and was a big name at WSM. Occasionally, Emory played on the Opry with Sid. They toured in a Model A Ford, in 1932 and 1933, working in Virginia, Pennsylvania. Most of their bookings though were in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. They played in theaters and schools.
In 1936, Harkreader disbanded his group and went to work for Uncle Dave Macon. Fiddlin' Sid bought a new '36 Ford for the show and he took Martin with him. While working with Harkreader and Macon in 1937, Emory had to take time off for an appendectomy. After his recuperation, he returned to Nashville.
In 1937, Martin joined the staff of Nashville's fledging radio station WSIX, where he befriended Johnnie Wright (of Johnnie & Jack fame) and Wright's wife, the future Kitty Wells. After a brief road tour, he joined Wright's Tennessee Hillbillies full-time, touring the South and appearing regularly on WNOX's popular Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round broadcast. As World War II forced many of his band-mates into overseas duty, Martin bided his time working for his father's masonry business.
In late 1943, he married fellow performer Wanda Linda Lou Arnold and settled in Rockcastle County, KY, operating an automotive service station and becoming a longtime fixture of WWLW's famed Saturday night broadcast Renfro Valley Barn Dance. Martin also recorded as a member of the gospel group the Holden Brothers and in March of 1950 was summoned to Nashville to back Wells and Johnnie & Jack on respective RCA recording sessions. How Far is Heaven, was one of the four songs they recorded during that session. During a subsequent session, they recorded twelve more sides.
He curtailed his musical pursuits in the years to follow, working for a carpeting installation company. In 1991 Martin and his wife published a memoir, One-Armed Banjo Player: The Early Years of Country Music with Emory Martin. He died April 17, 2006, at the age of 89.
He gained notoriety as the "World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player" having played at various times with artists such as Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells, Uncle Dave Macon, Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, and others. His first job was with Sid Harkreader on the Grand Ole Opry at age 16. He later recorded on RCA-Victor with Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells. On November 24, 1943 he married fellow performer Wanda "Linda Lou" Arnold in Griffin, GA between shows. He made the Renfro Valley/Mt. Vernon area his home after retiring from performing for years on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He later operated a service station in Renfro Valley with his brother, Curtis, and was later employed by Hysinger Carpet in Mt. Vernon. He loved working with his horses on his farm and enjoyed riding whenever possible. He was a founding member of the Rockcastle Saddle Club in 1968. But most of all, he enjoyed his family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were a great source of joy.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, Linda Martin, he is survived by a son, Roy A. Martin and wife Pamela of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Curtis Martin and wife Maryanne of Green Valley, AZ; three sisters, Ruby Womack of Huntsville, AL, Hattie Hickerson of Franklin, TN; and Helen Turner and husband, John of Green Valley, AZ; three grandchildren, Steve Martin and wife Donnaleah of Mt. Vernon, Gina Masters and husband Jensen of Brodhead, and Alexandra Taylor Martin also of Mt. Vernon; and four great grandchildren, Justice Masters, Ryan Martin, Jett Masters, and Wyatt Martin. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Martin; and a sister, Eva Morgan.
Interment Cresthaven Memorial Cemetery∼Billed as The World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player, Emory Martin transcended novelty status to emerge as one of Nashville's most unique and inspirational musicians, backing country superstars including Kitty Wells and Uncle Dave Macon in addition to regularly appearing on radio's fabled Grand Ole Opry.
Emory Martin, a native of Hickman County, Tennessee, was born on August 26, 1916, the second in a family of seven children. Emory's interest in music was shared by his older sister, Eva, who played guitar and a brother, Kenny, who played guitar and bass with Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell. His parents were a source of musical inspiration.
At age 16, he won a contest on at the Princess Theater (Nashville) playing The Wreck of the Old 97 and was hired on the spot by country pioneer Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, soon after making his Opry debut. Emory worked part-time while trying to finish school, but two years later, he quit school and went full-time. Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, whose career in country music spanned more than a half century, was one of the first performers on the Grand Ole Opry. In the 1920s he recorded more than 50 songs. Some with of his recordings were with Uncle Dave Macon and released on Vocation, Paramount, and other labels.
Martin's first show date with Harkreader was in Harriman, Tennessee. Along with Sid, there were Jewell Fagan, Moody Carroll and Robert Lunn. At the time Harkreader was performing on the Grand Ole Opry and was a big name at WSM. Occasionally, Emory played on the Opry with Sid. They toured in a Model A Ford, in 1932 and 1933, working in Virginia, Pennsylvania. Most of their bookings though were in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. They played in theaters and schools.
In 1936, Harkreader disbanded his group and went to work for Uncle Dave Macon. Fiddlin' Sid bought a new '36 Ford for the show and he took Martin with him. While working with Harkreader and Macon in 1937, Emory had to take time off for an appendectomy. After his recuperation, he returned to Nashville.
In 1937, Martin joined the staff of Nashville's fledging radio station WSIX, where he befriended Johnnie Wright (of Johnnie & Jack fame) and Wright's wife, the future Kitty Wells. After a brief road tour, he joined Wright's Tennessee Hillbillies full-time, touring the South and appearing regularly on WNOX's popular Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round broadcast. As World War II forced many of his band-mates into overseas duty, Martin bided his time working for his father's masonry business.
In late 1943, he married fellow performer Wanda Linda Lou Arnold and settled in Rockcastle County, KY, operating an automotive service station and becoming a longtime fixture of WWLW's famed Saturday night broadcast Renfro Valley Barn Dance. Martin also recorded as a member of the gospel group the Holden Brothers and in March of 1950 was summoned to Nashville to back Wells and Johnnie & Jack on respective RCA recording sessions. How Far is Heaven, was one of the four songs they recorded during that session. During a subsequent session, they recorded twelve more sides.
He curtailed his musical pursuits in the years to follow, working for a carpeting installation company. In 1991 Martin and his wife published a memoir, One-Armed Banjo Player: The Early Years of Country Music with Emory Martin. He died April 17, 2006, at the age of 89.
Mr. Emory Martin, age 89 of Mt. Vernon, KY died Monday, April 17, 2006 at his home. He was born in Bon Aqua, TN on August 26, 1916 the son of Horace and Maude Nichols Martin. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Mt. Vernon and was a 50 yr. Mason with the Masonic Lodge.
He gained notoriety as the "World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player" having played at various times with artists such as Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells, Uncle Dave Macon, Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, and others. His first job was with Sid Harkreader on the Grand Ole Opry at age 16. He later recorded on RCA-Victor with Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells. On November 24, 1943 he married fellow performer Wanda "Linda Lou" Arnold in Griffin, GA between shows. He made the Renfro Valley/Mt. Vernon area his home after retiring from performing for years on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He later operated a service station in Renfro Valley with his brother, Curtis, and was later employed by Hysinger Carpet in Mt. Vernon. He loved working with his horses on his farm and enjoyed riding whenever possible. He was a founding member of the Rockcastle Saddle Club in 1968. But most of all, he enjoyed his family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were a great source of joy.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, Linda Martin, he is survived by a son, Roy A. Martin and wife Pamela of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Curtis Martin and wife Maryanne of Green Valley, AZ; three sisters, Ruby Womack of Huntsville, AL, Hattie Hickerson of Franklin, TN; and Helen Turner and husband, John of Green Valley, AZ; three grandchildren, Steve Martin and wife Donnaleah of Mt. Vernon, Gina Masters and husband Jensen of Brodhead, and Alexandra Taylor Martin also of Mt. Vernon; and four great grandchildren, Justice Masters, Ryan Martin, Jett Masters, and Wyatt Martin. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Martin; and a sister, Eva Morgan.
Interment Cresthaven Memorial Cemetery∼Billed as The World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player, Emory Martin transcended novelty status to emerge as one of Nashville's most unique and inspirational musicians, backing country superstars including Kitty Wells and Uncle Dave Macon in addition to regularly appearing on radio's fabled Grand Ole Opry.
Emory Martin, a native of Hickman County, Tennessee, was born on August 26, 1916, the second in a family of seven children. Emory's interest in music was shared by his older sister, Eva, who played guitar and a brother, Kenny, who played guitar and bass with Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell. His parents were a source of musical inspiration.
At age 16, he won a contest on at the Princess Theater (Nashville) playing The Wreck of the Old 97 and was hired on the spot by country pioneer Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, soon after making his Opry debut. Emory worked part-time while trying to finish school, but two years later, he quit school and went full-time. Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, whose career in country music spanned more than a half century, was one of the first performers on the Grand Ole Opry. In the 1920s he recorded more than 50 songs. Some with of his recordings were with Uncle Dave Macon and released on Vocation, Paramount, and other labels.
Martin's first show date with Harkreader was in Harriman, Tennessee. Along with Sid, there were Jewell Fagan, Moody Carroll and Robert Lunn. At the time Harkreader was performing on the Grand Ole Opry and was a big name at WSM. Occasionally, Emory played on the Opry with Sid. They toured in a Model A Ford, in 1932 and 1933, working in Virginia, Pennsylvania. Most of their bookings though were in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. They played in theaters and schools.
In 1936, Harkreader disbanded his group and went to work for Uncle Dave Macon. Fiddlin' Sid bought a new '36 Ford for the show and he took Martin with him. While working with Harkreader and Macon in 1937, Emory had to take time off for an appendectomy. After his recuperation, he returned to Nashville.
In 1937, Martin joined the staff of Nashville's fledging radio station WSIX, where he befriended Johnnie Wright (of Johnnie & Jack fame) and Wright's wife, the future Kitty Wells. After a brief road tour, he joined Wright's Tennessee Hillbillies full-time, touring the South and appearing regularly on WNOX's popular Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round broadcast. As World War II forced many of his band-mates into overseas duty, Martin bided his time working for his father's masonry business.
In late 1943, he married fellow performer Wanda Linda Lou Arnold and settled in Rockcastle County, KY, operating an automotive service station and becoming a longtime fixture of WWLW's famed Saturday night broadcast Renfro Valley Barn Dance. Martin also recorded as a member of the gospel group the Holden Brothers and in March of 1950 was summoned to Nashville to back Wells and Johnnie & Jack on respective RCA recording sessions. How Far is Heaven, was one of the four songs they recorded during that session. During a subsequent session, they recorded twelve more sides.
He curtailed his musical pursuits in the years to follow, working for a carpeting installation company. In 1991 Martin and his wife published a memoir, One-Armed Banjo Player: The Early Years of Country Music with Emory Martin. He died April 17, 2006, at the age of 89.
He gained notoriety as the "World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player" having played at various times with artists such as Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells, Uncle Dave Macon, Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, and others. His first job was with Sid Harkreader on the Grand Ole Opry at age 16. He later recorded on RCA-Victor with Johnny and Jack and Kitty Wells. On November 24, 1943 he married fellow performer Wanda "Linda Lou" Arnold in Griffin, GA between shows. He made the Renfro Valley/Mt. Vernon area his home after retiring from performing for years on the Renfro Valley Barn Dance. He later operated a service station in Renfro Valley with his brother, Curtis, and was later employed by Hysinger Carpet in Mt. Vernon. He loved working with his horses on his farm and enjoyed riding whenever possible. He was a founding member of the Rockcastle Saddle Club in 1968. But most of all, he enjoyed his family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were a great source of joy.
In addition to his wife of 62 years, Linda Martin, he is survived by a son, Roy A. Martin and wife Pamela of Mt. Vernon; a brother, Curtis Martin and wife Maryanne of Green Valley, AZ; three sisters, Ruby Womack of Huntsville, AL, Hattie Hickerson of Franklin, TN; and Helen Turner and husband, John of Green Valley, AZ; three grandchildren, Steve Martin and wife Donnaleah of Mt. Vernon, Gina Masters and husband Jensen of Brodhead, and Alexandra Taylor Martin also of Mt. Vernon; and four great grandchildren, Justice Masters, Ryan Martin, Jett Masters, and Wyatt Martin. Also surviving are several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Kenneth Martin; and a sister, Eva Morgan.
Interment Cresthaven Memorial Cemetery∼Billed as The World's Only One-Armed Banjo Player, Emory Martin transcended novelty status to emerge as one of Nashville's most unique and inspirational musicians, backing country superstars including Kitty Wells and Uncle Dave Macon in addition to regularly appearing on radio's fabled Grand Ole Opry.
Emory Martin, a native of Hickman County, Tennessee, was born on August 26, 1916, the second in a family of seven children. Emory's interest in music was shared by his older sister, Eva, who played guitar and a brother, Kenny, who played guitar and bass with Hank Williams, and Lefty Frizzell. His parents were a source of musical inspiration.
At age 16, he won a contest on at the Princess Theater (Nashville) playing The Wreck of the Old 97 and was hired on the spot by country pioneer Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, soon after making his Opry debut. Emory worked part-time while trying to finish school, but two years later, he quit school and went full-time. Fiddlin' Sid Harkreader, whose career in country music spanned more than a half century, was one of the first performers on the Grand Ole Opry. In the 1920s he recorded more than 50 songs. Some with of his recordings were with Uncle Dave Macon and released on Vocation, Paramount, and other labels.
Martin's first show date with Harkreader was in Harriman, Tennessee. Along with Sid, there were Jewell Fagan, Moody Carroll and Robert Lunn. At the time Harkreader was performing on the Grand Ole Opry and was a big name at WSM. Occasionally, Emory played on the Opry with Sid. They toured in a Model A Ford, in 1932 and 1933, working in Virginia, Pennsylvania. Most of their bookings though were in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and Kentucky. They played in theaters and schools.
In 1936, Harkreader disbanded his group and went to work for Uncle Dave Macon. Fiddlin' Sid bought a new '36 Ford for the show and he took Martin with him. While working with Harkreader and Macon in 1937, Emory had to take time off for an appendectomy. After his recuperation, he returned to Nashville.
In 1937, Martin joined the staff of Nashville's fledging radio station WSIX, where he befriended Johnnie Wright (of Johnnie & Jack fame) and Wright's wife, the future Kitty Wells. After a brief road tour, he joined Wright's Tennessee Hillbillies full-time, touring the South and appearing regularly on WNOX's popular Mid-Day Merry-Go-Round broadcast. As World War II forced many of his band-mates into overseas duty, Martin bided his time working for his father's masonry business.
In late 1943, he married fellow performer Wanda Linda Lou Arnold and settled in Rockcastle County, KY, operating an automotive service station and becoming a longtime fixture of WWLW's famed Saturday night broadcast Renfro Valley Barn Dance. Martin also recorded as a member of the gospel group the Holden Brothers and in March of 1950 was summoned to Nashville to back Wells and Johnnie & Jack on respective RCA recording sessions. How Far is Heaven, was one of the four songs they recorded during that session. During a subsequent session, they recorded twelve more sides.
He curtailed his musical pursuits in the years to follow, working for a carpeting installation company. In 1991 Martin and his wife published a memoir, One-Armed Banjo Player: The Early Years of Country Music with Emory Martin. He died April 17, 2006, at the age of 89.
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