You may not recognize the name Benny Martin, but judging by the impressive roster of friends who guest on this record, he's revered among country and bluegrass musicians. The hefty and jovial fiddler had a large impact on ... more »country music during its postwar and pre-Elvis boom, gracing shows and recordings by everyone from bluegrass pioneers Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs to country stars Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Red Foley, Carl Smith, and just about anyone else who needed the help of Nashville's first-call fiddler. Although he's still battling a nerve disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, Martin's condition has improved enough for him to record again in 1999, and what a delight this record is. All 15 cuts are handsome Martin originals, many of which date back to his short-lived but relatively successful solo career of the late 1950s. The guest list includes legendary veterans (Earl Scruggs, Jim & Jesse, Bobby Osborne, Josh Graves, John Hartford, Tom T. Hall, Buck White, Del McCoury), younger stars (Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs), and instrumental wizards (Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Buddy Emmons on steel). Even Martin himself takes a crack at a few vocals, and although his voice has been devastated by his ailment, he never takes the easy way out, still going for just the right inflection or phrasing. More than a mere album, this is a multigenerational celebration of country music and one of its great practitioners. --Marc Greilsamer« less
You may not recognize the name Benny Martin, but judging by the impressive roster of friends who guest on this record, he's revered among country and bluegrass musicians. The hefty and jovial fiddler had a large impact on country music during its postwar and pre-Elvis boom, gracing shows and recordings by everyone from bluegrass pioneers Bill Monroe and Flatt & Scruggs to country stars Roy Acuff, Kitty Wells, Red Foley, Carl Smith, and just about anyone else who needed the help of Nashville's first-call fiddler. Although he's still battling a nerve disorder called spasmodic dysphonia, Martin's condition has improved enough for him to record again in 1999, and what a delight this record is. All 15 cuts are handsome Martin originals, many of which date back to his short-lived but relatively successful solo career of the late 1950s. The guest list includes legendary veterans (Earl Scruggs, Jim & Jesse, Bobby Osborne, Josh Graves, John Hartford, Tom T. Hall, Buck White, Del McCoury), younger stars (Crystal Gayle, Vince Gill, Ricky Skaggs), and instrumental wizards (Jerry Douglas on Dobro, Buddy Emmons on steel). Even Martin himself takes a crack at a few vocals, and although his voice has been devastated by his ailment, he never takes the easy way out, still going for just the right inflection or phrasing. More than a mere album, this is a multigenerational celebration of country music and one of its great practitioners. --Marc Greilsamer
CD Reviews
The Real Deal!
Pat Knapp | Louisa, MO | 02/05/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anyone that doesn't like this probably isn't a fan of the great Benny Martin. He's much more than a sideman, and insiders in the business have known this.If someone thought he was going to record a bunch of old Flatt & Scruggs instrumentals this late in life, they must be crazy. This is Benny Martin music...Its great songs, great fiddling..He's a genius, and the genius is on exhibit here. No, he can't sing like he did in 1950, but he has more soul in his voice than most singers can amass in a lifetime. Besides, most of his musical contemporaries have been dead for some time now.This recording is a classic! Welcome back Benny. You are the man!"
The greatest
ray cutshaw | madison tn | 12/12/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"as a long time friend and former neighbor of benny i,ve watched him struggle with his health problemsand i,m glad he has found the strength to get back in the saddle this is a great album and shows the respectthat those in the "know" have for the big tigers abilitys i love you benny"
Where did this come from?
ray cutshaw | 10/11/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I thought Benny was dead! And then this - an incredible album with a who's who list. This is cool."
The fiddler's fiddler
gene lowinger | 01/02/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"There is a review of this cd currently on line with amazon written under my name that I definitely did not write. I played fiddle with Bill Monroe in the 1960's and I learned to play by listening to Chubby Wise and Benny Martin recordings, also to Vassar Clements. They were all innovators, and I have great respect for what they did for the music and the instrument. I have nothing but admiration for Benny Martin's most recent recording. While it does suffer a bit from technical difficulties, to have come back from the trials and tribulations that Benny describes openly and honestly in the liner notes to this work, and rallied the support of his friends and admirers to work with him is worthy of great respect. This work is a great accomplishment for Benny, and a testament to his determination and resiliency."
Benny Martin - A Bluegrass and Country Music Legend
gene lowinger | 08/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
""The 'Big Tiger' Roars Again" is an epic release by one of the real geniouses of country music and its original style of bluegrass music.While names like Vassar Clements, Johnny Gimble, Mark O'Connor and others seemed to become household names, Benny Martin remained a musicians musician; an artist whose contributions were influential, but whose profile became less visible over years of declining health.This release is Benny's first recording since 1978 when he recorded and album with Lester Flatt just a few months before Lester's death. On this re-emergence, Benny displays his extraordinary talent with an incredible array of friends in the country music industry including Vince Gill, Tom T. Hall, Crystal Gayle, Earl Scruggs, John Hartford, Del McCoury, Bobby Osborne, Johnny Russell, Buddy Spicher, Jerry Douglas, Terry Eldredge and Ricky Skaggs.A Country Music People review said in its July 1999 review and spotlight, "What a heartwarming record this is. Not simply because it brings back on record the larger-than-life Benny Martin, but because it radiates love and camaraderie among musicians who truly respect one another and their contributions to the country music story."This CD includes CD-ROM video content of Benny Martin in the 1950's. Its an audio CD, but if you put it in your computer you can view the 1950's color video of Benny Martin at the peak of his career.This is a must have release for every fan of country or bluegrass music."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1