Boxcar Willie
Martin in Boxcar Willie garb
Martin in Boxcar Willie garb
Background information
Birth nameLecil Travis Martin
Also known asBoxcar Willie
Born(1931-09-01)September 1, 1931
Ovilla, Texas, U.S.
DiedApril 12, 1999(1999-04-12) (aged 67)
Branson, Missouri, U.S.
GenresCountry, gospel
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, train whistle
Websitewww.boxcarwillie.com
Military career
AllegianceUnited States
Service/branch United States Air Force
Years of service1949–1976
RankMaster sergeant E7[1]
Battles/warsKorean War

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.

Biography

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". 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.

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

Martin 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

After 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

Albums

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

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

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

  • Trott, Walt (1998). "Boxcar Willie". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 47.

References

  1. ↑ "Martin, Lecil Travis, MSgt". Weservedtogether.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2015.
  2. ↑ Malone, Bill C. Country music, U.S.A., University of Texas Press, 2002, p. 277.
  3. ↑ 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
  4. ↑ Colin Larkin, ed. (1997). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music (Concise ed.). Virgin Books. p. 171. ISBN 1-85227-745-9.
  5. ↑ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 74. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ↑ "BoxCar Willie" Archived November 7, 2004, at the Wayback Machine, Salon obituary, April 14, 1999.
  7. ↑ Jasinski, Laurie E. (2012). Handbook of Texas Music. Texas State Historical Assn. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-87611-297-7.
  8. ↑ "Tuesday Talk: America's Favorite Hobo". wrvhs.org. White River Valley Historical Society. January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Boxcar Willie Jr. paying tribute to late father at LanTex Theater". 101highlandlakes.com. September 9, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ 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.
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