Boxcar Willie | |
|---|---|
 Martin in Boxcar Willie garb | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Boxcar Willie |
| Born | Lecil Travis Martin (1931-09-01)September 1, 1931 Ovilla, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 12, 1999(1999-04-12) (aged 67) Branson, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Country,gospel |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar,train whistle |
| Website | www.boxcarwillie.com |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch |  United States Air Force |
| Service years | 1949–1976 |
| Rank | Master sergeant E7[1] |
| Conflicts | Korean War |
Lecil Travis Martin (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999), whose stage name wasBoxcar Willie, was an Americancountry music singer-songwriter, who sang in the"old-time hobo" music style, complete with overalls and a floppy hat.[2] "Boxcar Willie" was originally a character in a ballad he wrote, but he later adopted it as his own stage name.[3] His early musical career was parallel to service as an enlistedflight engineer in theUnited States Air Force.
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According to his birth record, Martin was born inOvilla, Texas, to Birdie and Edna Mae Martin. He joined the U.S. Air Force in May 1949, and served as a flight engineer on theB-29 Super Fortress during theKorean War in the early 1950s. InLincoln, Nebraska, Martin was once sitting at a railroad crossing and a fellow who closely resembled his chief boom operator, Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in aboxcar. He said, "There goes Willie." He pulled over and wrote a song entitled "Boxcar Willie".[citation needed] It eventually stuck and became Martin's nickname. In 1962, Martin met his future wife, Lloene, inBoise, Idaho. They later had four children.
InSan Jose, California, Martin attended a talent show as "Boxcar Willie" and performed under that nickname for the first time. He won first place and a $150 prize. That was his part-time vocation, however, as he was still in the Air Force and had been flying daily missions. In the early 1970s, while assigned to the136th Air Refueling Wing of theTexas Air National Guard, Martin served as a flight engineer aboard theBoeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and participated in Operation Creek Party. This operation provided critical in-flight refueling services for fighter aircraft assigned to theUnited States Air Forces in Europe for 10 years.
In 1976, Martin retired from the Air Force and became a full-time performer. One of his first national appearances was a win onChuck Barris'The Gong Show. In the late 1970s, Martin traveled toGrand Prairie, Texas, where he purchased hundreds ofeight-track tapes of his music to sell later in various places. After he received a contract with other recording studios, he discontinued his dealings with Cleo McDonald.[needs context]
Martin entered American mainstream pop-culture consciousness due to a series of television commercials for record compilations of artists who were obscure in the United States, yet had large international followings, such asSlim Whitman andGheorghe Zamfir. Martin went on to become a star incountry music. In 1981, Martin achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into theGrand Ole Opry.[4] He also had success outside of the United States, with his 1980 albumKing of the Road giving him his greatest chart success by reaching number five in theUK Albums Chart.[5] Traveling around the world with Martin's band was his steadfast and trusty steel guitar-player Chubby Howard, a radio-show host and musician for many years.
In 1985, Martin moved toBranson, Missouri, and purchased a theater onMissouri Route 76, also known as 76 Country Boulevard. In addition to the Boxcar Willie Theater, he opened a museum and eventually had two motels, both bearing his name. Martin was one of the first big stars to open a show in Branson, paving the way for the other nationally known names who followed.[6] He performed at his theater in Branson until his death.
On February 23, 1992, Martin was featured on the second-season premiere ofTracks Ahead on which he performed with his band at the Boxcar Willie Theater.
Martin was diagnosed withleukemia in 1996, and died on April 12, 1999, in Branson at the age of 67. He was buried at Ozarks Memorial Park in Branson.[7]Major League Baseball umpire"Cowboy" Joe West was among his pallbearers.
After a major reconstruction project, the overpass carryingFarm to Market Road 664 (locally known as Ovilla Road) overInterstate 35E inRed Oak, Texas, was renamed the Boxcar Willie Memorial Overpass. A small park, two blocks from theNational Mall, near theL'Enfant Plaza station in Washington, DC, was renamed Boxcar Willie Park. Martin is still recalled by his nickname, "America's Favorite Hobo".[8] One of his sons, Larry Martin, has performed professionally under the stage name of Boxcar Willie Jr.[9]
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | AUS [10] | CAN | |||
| 1976 | Boxcar Willie | — | — | — | Column One |
| 1978 | Daddy Was A Railroad Man | — | — | — | |
| 1979 | Boxcar Willie Sings Hank Williams and Jimmie Rodgers | — | — | — | |
| 1980 | Take Me Home | — | — | — | |
| Greatest Hits – Boxcar Willie | — | — | — | ||
| 1981 | King of the Road | 54 | 40 | 35 | Main Street |
| 1982 | Last Train to Heaven featuring Lee Gentry | 27 | — | — | |
| Best of Boxcar, Vol. 1 | 34 | — | — | ||
| 1983 | ...Not the Man I Used to Be | 35 | — | — | |
| 1986 | 20 All Time Favourites | — | 86 | — | J&B Records |
| Boxcar Willie | — | — | — | Dot Records | |
| 1988 | Live at Wembley | — | — | — | Pickwick Records |
| Best Loved Favorites | — | — | — | Heartland Music | |
| 1991 | Pure Country Magic | — | — | — | |
| Truck Driving Favorites | — | — | — | Madacy Entertainment | |
| 1993 | Rocky Box: Rockabily (With The Skeletons) | — | — | — | K-Tel Records |
| 1994 | The Spirit Of America | — | — | — | Madacy Entertainment |
| 1996 | Achy Breaky Heart | — | — | — | |
| 2004 | American Songs – The Very Best ofJohnny Cash & Boxcar Willie | — | — | — | Retro Records |
| Year | Single | Chart Positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Country | CAN Country | |||
| 1980 | "Train Medley" | 95 | — | Take Me Home |
| 1982 | "Bad News" | 36 | 15 | Last Train to Heaven |
| "We Made Memories"(w/Penny DeHaven) | 77 | — | ||
| "Last Train to Heaven" | 80 | — | ||
| "Keep on Rollin' Down the Line" | 70 | — | ||
| 1983 | "Country Music Nightmare" | 76 | — | Best of Boxcar, Vol. 1 |
| "Train Medley"(re-release) | 61 | — | ||
| "The Man I Used to Be" | 44 | — | ...Not the Man I Used to Be | |
| 1984 | "Not on the Bottom Yet" | 87 | — | |
| "Luther" | 69 | — | ||
| Year | Organization | Award | Nominee/Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Music City News Country Awards | Most Promising Male Artist | Boxcar Willie | Won |
| Country Music Association Awards | Horizon Award | Boxcar Willie | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
