Twentieth Century Drifter

by Diekman, Diane

• ISBN13: 9780252036323
• ISBN10: 0252036328
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2012-02-15
• Publisher: Univ of Illinois Pr

Summary

Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbinsis the first biography of this legendary country music artist and NASCAR driver who scored sixteen number-one hits and two Grammy awards. Yet even with fame and fortune, Marty Robbins always yearned for more. Drawing from personal interviews and in-depth research, biographer Diane Diekman explains how Robbins saw himself as a drifter, a man always searching for self-fulfillment and inner peace. Born Martin David Robinson to a hardworking mother and abusive alcoholic father, he never fully escaped from the insecurities burned into him by a poverty-stricken nomadic childhood in the Arizona desert. In 1947 he got his first gig as a singer and guitar player. Too nervous to talk, the shy young man walked onstage singing. Soon he changed his name to Marty Robbins, cultivated his magnetic stage presence, and established himself as an entertainer, songwriter, and successful NASCAR driver. For fans of Robbins, NASCAR, and classic country music,Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbinsis a revealing portrait of this well-loved, restless entertainer, a private man who kept those who loved him at a distance.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
In the Hall of Fame	p. 1
Child of the Arizona Desert	p. 5
A Drifter	p. 15
Music and Marizona	p. 25
On Columbia Records	p. 33
Mr. Teardrop	p. 41
Singing the Blues in a White Sport Coat	p. 53
Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs	p. 63
Early 1960s	p. 79
Cowboy in a Continental Suit	p. 87
Still More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs	p. 95
From Dirt Track to NASCAR	p. 105
A Hot Dog Ready to Pop	p. 113
"I Want To Race Again"	p. 123
Back in the Groove	p. 131
NASCAR42	p. 141
Twentieth Century Drifter	p. 153
Return to the Road	p. 161
Back on Columbia Records and in the Spotlight	p. 169
The Marty Robbins Band on Tour	p. 177
Into the '80s	p. 189
NASCARùPhase Two	p. 199
Super Legend	p. 203
No Plans of Quitting any Time Soon	p. 213
"I'll Be Drifting Home"	p. 225
Some Memories Just Won't Die	p. 231
Appendix: Band Members	p. 235
Notes	p. 239
Index	p. 273
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