1989

MARTY STUART

Marty Stuart was a bright light in the bluegrass music world, having been playing with Lester Flatt. Even at the age of fifteen he was a striking, high-profile dude with a unique style. On CBS Records Marty tried to blend bluegrass and country for the mainstream, but it didn’t seem to work. While I was recording Steve Earle’s Copperhead Road album at Ardent Studios in Memphis, a dashing Marty Stuart pulled up in his black CJ-7 Jeep, and dressed in black. He said, “I’m not leaving Memphis until you promise to sign me at MCA and produce some hits on me!” I said, “Well, what you got, bro?”

Marty proceeded to play what he called some “beat ballads” that he had written with Paul Kennerley. “Hillbilly Rock” was the first song he played me, and I loved it! It had a Buddy Holly vibe to it and felt fresh for a country record. “Hillbilly Rock” would be the first of many beat ballads Marty and Paul would write. We followed up “Hillbilly Rock” with three more gold albums and a great career was born! Marty is the keeper of the flame for the tradition of country music.

“I saw Tony Brown in person for the first time in 1970.He was playing piano onstage for the Oak Ridge Boys. I thought he was the coolest cat I’d seen. I still think he’s the coolest cat I’ve ever seen.”

Marty Stuart

1. Me, Bruce Hinton, Marty Stuart, and Richard Bennett.

2. Me, Marty Stuart with his wife, Connie Smith, and Larry Bud Mellam, CMA after-party.

3. Me, Zack Horowitz, Lou Wasserman, Marty Stuart, Bruce Hinton, Vince Gill, and Al Teller.

4. Nashville’s elite session musicians: Lonnie Wilson, Mike Brignardello, John Jorgenson, John Jarvis, Steve Nathan, Paul Franklin, Stuart Duncan, Randy Scruggs, and Belea Fleck with Marty (center right) and me (front right).

The only way to enjoy the music business is to be idealistic, and the only way to stay in it is to be realistic.

Tony Brown