Lecil Travis Martin (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999), whose stage name was Boxcar Willie, was an American country 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 enlisted flight engineer in the United States Air Force.
Boxcar Willie | |
|---|---|
 Martin in Boxcar Willie garb | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Lecil Travis Martin |
| Also known as | Boxcar Willie |
| Born | September 1, 1931 Ovilla, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 12, 1999 (aged 67) Branson, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | Country, gospel |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar, train whistle |
| Website | www.boxcarwillie.com |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service |  United States Air Force |
| Years of service | 1949–1976 |
| Rank | Master sergeant E7[1] |
| Battles / wars | Korean War |
Biography
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2023) |
According to his birth record, Martin was born in Ovilla, Texas, to Birdie and Edna Mae Martin. He joined the United States Air Force in May 1949, and served as a flight engineer on the B-29 Super Fortress during the Korean War in the early 1950s. In Lincoln, Nebraska, Martin was once sitting at a railroad crossing and a fellow that closely resembled his chief boom operator, Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in a boxcar. 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, in Boise, Idaho. They later had four children.
In San 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 the 136th Air Refueling Wing of the Texas Air National Guard, Martin served as a flight engineer aboard the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and participated in Operation Creek Party. This operation provided critical in-flight refueling services for fighter aircraft assigned to the United 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 on Chuck Barris' The Gong Show. In the late 1970s, Martin traveled to Grand Prairie, Texas, where he purchased hundreds of 8-track tapes pre-recorded with 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 as Slim Whitman and Gheorghe Zamfir. Martin went on to become a star in country music. In 1981, Martin achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry.[4] He also had success outside of the United States, with his 1980 album King of the Road giving him his greatest chart success by reaching No. 5 in the UK Albums Chart.[5] Traveling around the world with Martin's band was his steadfast and trusty steel guitar player Chubby Howard, radio show host and musician for many years.
In 1985, Martin moved to Branson, Missouri, and purchased a theater on Missouri 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 that followed.[6] He performed at his theater in Branson until his death.
On February 23, 1992, Martin was featured on the second-season premier of Tracks Ahead in which he performed with his band at the Boxcar Willie Theater.
Death
editMartin was diagnosed with leukemia in 1996, and died on April 12, 1999, in Branson, Missouri 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.
Legacy
editAfter a major reconstruction project, the overpass carrying Farm to Market Road 664 (locally known as Ovilla Road) over Interstate 35E in Red Oak, Texas, was renamed the Boxcar Willie Memorial Overpass. A small park, two blocks from the National Mall, near the L'Enfant Plaza station in Washington, D.C., 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]
Discography
editAlbums
edit| 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 of Johnny Cash & Boxcar Willie | — | — | — | Retro Records |
Singles
edit| 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 | — | ||
Awards and nominations
edit| 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 |
Sources
edit- Trott, Walt (1998). "Boxcar Willie". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 47.
References
edit- ^ "Martin, Lecil Travis, MSgt". Weservedtogether.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
- ^ Malone, Bill C. Country music, U.S.A., University of Texas Press, 2002, p. 277.
- ^ Mazor, Barry. Meeting Jimmie Rodgers: How America's Original Roots Music Hero Changed the Pop Sounds of a Century, Oxford University Press, 2009, p. 291
- ^ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 171. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 74. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ "BoxCar Willie" Archived November 7, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Salon obituary, April 14, 1999.
- ^ Jasinski, Laurie E. (2012). Handbook of Texas Music. Texas State Historical Assn. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-87611-297-7.
- ^ "Tuesday Talk: America's Favorite Hobo". wrvhs.org. White River Valley Historical Society. January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ "Boxcar Willie Jr. paying tribute to late father at LanTex Theater". 101highlandlakes.com. September 9, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 44. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.