Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins

Diane Diekman

University of Illinois Press, Feb 15, 2012 - Music - 320 pages

Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins is 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 an abusive alcoholic father, he never fully escaped 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 Robbins is a revealing portrait of this well-loved, restless entertainer, a private man who kept those who loved him at a distance.

Contents

• 1 In the Hall of Fame: 1
• 2 Child of the Arizona Desert: 5
• 3 A Drifter: 15
• 4 Music and Marizona: 25
• 5 On Columbia Records: 33
• 6 Mr Teardrop: 41
• 7 Singing the Blues in a White Sport Coat: 53
• 8 Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs: 63
• 9 Early 1960s: 79
• 10 Cowboy in a Continental Suit: 87
• 11 Still More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs: 95
• 12 From Dirt Track to NASCAR: 105
• 13 A Hot Dog Ready to Pop: 113
• 14 I Want To Race Again: 123
• 15 Back in the Groove: 131
• 16 NASCAR 42: 141
• 17 Twentieth Century Drifter: 153
• 18 Return to the Road: 161
• 19 Back on Columbia Records and in the Spotlight: 169
• 20 The Marty Robbins Band on Tour: 177
• 21 Into the 80s: 189
• 22 NASCARPhase Two: 199
• 23 Super Legend: 203
• 24 No Plans of Quitting Any Time Soon: 213
• 25 Ill Be Drifting Home: 225
• 26 Some Memories Just Wont Die: 231
• Band Members: 235
• Notes: 239
• Index: 273

About the author

Diane Diekman, a retired U.S. Navy captain, is the author of Live Fast, Love Hard: The Faron Young Story;Navy Greenshirt: A Leader Made, Not Born; and A Farm in the Hidewood: My South Dakota Home.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins; Music in American Life
• Author: Diane Diekman
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press, 2012
• ISBN: 0252094204, 9780252094200
• Length: 320 pages
• Subjects: Biography & Autobiography / Music; Music / General; Music / Genres & Styles / Country & Bluegrass; Music / Individual Composer & Musician