Interview with Jimmy Martin, December 20, 2004
Project: Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project
Interview Summary
In this interview with Bluegrass musician Jimmy Martin, Martin discusses his life and career beginning as a child in Tennessee, his audition with Bill Monroe, his later work with the Osborne Brothers, and his own band the Sunny Mountain Boys. He tells stories of his experiences with each band and describes why he left each one. He discusses the politics surrounding the Grand Ole Opry which kept him from performing on the show. He talks emotionally about why he continues to love Bill Monroe despite Monroe's attitude toward him after he left. Other topics include songwriting, recording, albums and records, touring, and his personal relationships.Interview Accession
Interviewee Name
Interviewer Name
Interview Date
Interview Keyword
Bill Monroe and his Blue Grass Boys (Artist) Monroe, Bill (Artist) Bill Monroe (Artist) Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys (Artist) Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys (Artist) Monroe, Melissa (Artist) Melissa Monroe (Artist) Osborne Brothers (Artist) Osborne, Sonny (Artist) Sonny Osborne (Artist) Osborne, Bobby (Artist) Bobby Osborne (Artist) Louisiana Hayride (Radio program) Jimmy Martin & the Sunny Mountain Boys (Artist) Jimmy Martin and the Sunny Mountain Boys (Artist) Wheeling Jamboree (Radio program) Grand Ole OpryInterview Rights
The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History has been licensed by the International Bluegrass Music Museum as the exclusive archival repository for this collection. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, belong to the International Bluegrass Music Museum.?Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.Interview Usage
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.Restriction
Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.
The Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History has been licensed by the International Bluegrass Music Museum as the exclusive archival repository for this collection. All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, belong to the International Bluegrass Music Museum.?Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky.
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Martin, Jimmy Interview by Lance LeRoy. 20 Dec. 2004. Lexington, KY: Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
Martin, J. (2004, December 20). Interview by L. LeRoy. Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project. Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington.
Martin, Jimmy, interview by Lance LeRoy. December 20, 2004, Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum Oral History Project, Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.
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Persistent Link for this Record: https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt79319s4h9x