BOXCAR WILLIE GOES INTO AMERICA’S COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME, IN IOWA, ON HIS BIRTHDAY
LeMars,
Iowa…..The world’s best known and most beloved Hobo, Boxcar Willie,
would have turned 82 this year on September 1. He’s not with us
anymore, he passed away in 1999. The folks at America’s Country Music
Hall of Fame never got around to inducting Boxcar Willie, but a new
opportunity has given rise to placing this traditional country music
super-star in their Hall of Fame. Of the four children Boxcar and his
wife Lloene had, one son has taken on the name of his father. Now known
as Boxcar Willie Jr., (Marty Martin) will make the trek to the
cornfields of Iowa to ascertain his father does indeed get inducted into
America’s Country Music Hall of Fame, and it will all happen on
September 1st, on his dad’s birthday, at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds
in LeMars, Iowa, during the 38th annual National Old Time Country Music
Festival.
Iowa…..The world’s best known and most beloved Hobo, Boxcar Willie,
would have turned 82 this year on September 1. He’s not with us
anymore, he passed away in 1999. The folks at America’s Country Music
Hall of Fame never got around to inducting Boxcar Willie, but a new
opportunity has given rise to placing this traditional country music
super-star in their Hall of Fame. Of the four children Boxcar and his
wife Lloene had, one son has taken on the name of his father. Now known
as Boxcar Willie Jr., (Marty Martin) will make the trek to the
cornfields of Iowa to ascertain his father does indeed get inducted into
America’s Country Music Hall of Fame, and it will all happen on
September 1st, on his dad’s birthday, at the Plymouth County Fairgrounds
in LeMars, Iowa, during the 38th annual National Old Time Country Music
Festival.
“Boxcar Willie was incredibly popular
in Europe, but his country music roots came directly from the upper
Midwest,” says Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional
Country Music Assn. “Boxcar spent lots of time in Nebraska,” Everhart
added, “He was in the Air Force, and spent most of his time at Offutt
Air Force Base in Omaha. As a matter of fact, Boxcar (his real name was
Lecil Travis Martin) was sitting at a railroad crossing just outside of
Lincoln, when a hobo that closely resembled one of his fellow airmen,
Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in an open boxcar. Martin saw the man
that looked like his friend pass by, and immediately picked up a pencil
and paper and wrote a song he called “Boxcar Willie.” It eventually
stuck, and became Martin’s nickname. Sometime
later, he attended a talent show as ‘Boxcar Willie’ in San Jose,
California. He won first place, $150, and a nickname that he would
forever go by. He left the Air Force in 1976, and became a full-time
performer of traditional country music. He had a big win on the Chuck
Barris ‘Gong Show.’ This eventually led to a recording contract, and he
sold well over 100-million records, tapes, and CDs worldwide. In 1981
he achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into the Grand Ole
Opry as it’s 60th member. In 1985 he opened his theater, and a
museum, in Branson, Missouri. He stayed in Branson, performing at his
theater until his death.”
in Europe, but his country music roots came directly from the upper
Midwest,” says Bob Everhart, President of the National Traditional
Country Music Assn. “Boxcar spent lots of time in Nebraska,” Everhart
added, “He was in the Air Force, and spent most of his time at Offutt
Air Force Base in Omaha. As a matter of fact, Boxcar (his real name was
Lecil Travis Martin) was sitting at a railroad crossing just outside of
Lincoln, when a hobo that closely resembled one of his fellow airmen,
Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in an open boxcar. Martin saw the man
that looked like his friend pass by, and immediately picked up a pencil
and paper and wrote a song he called “Boxcar Willie.” It eventually
stuck, and became Martin’s nickname. Sometime
later, he attended a talent show as ‘Boxcar Willie’ in San Jose,
California. He won first place, $150, and a nickname that he would
forever go by. He left the Air Force in 1976, and became a full-time
performer of traditional country music. He had a big win on the Chuck
Barris ‘Gong Show.’ This eventually led to a recording contract, and he
sold well over 100-million records, tapes, and CDs worldwide. In 1981
he achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into the Grand Ole
Opry as it’s 60th member. In 1985 he opened his theater, and a
museum, in Branson, Missouri. He stayed in Branson, performing at his
theater until his death.”
“It’s especially nice to see his son
Marty keeping this incredible ‘train-song’ tradition alive,” Everhart
said. “He’ll be on stage with others coming for Hall of Fame
ceremonies, Mickey Gilley, LuLu Roman, Barbara Fairchild, Joanne Cash
(Johnny Cash’s sister), Terry Smith (wrote Far Side Banks of Jordan for
Johnny & June Carter Cash), and over 650 pickers, players,
entertainers, and performers of traditional country music at this year’s
celebration. It last seven days, starting on Aug. 26, going through
Sept. 1, which is Boxcar’s birthday. There’s ten stages to accommodate
the many performers from 9am to midnight every day.”
Marty keeping this incredible ‘train-song’ tradition alive,” Everhart
said. “He’ll be on stage with others coming for Hall of Fame
ceremonies, Mickey Gilley, LuLu Roman, Barbara Fairchild, Joanne Cash
(Johnny Cash’s sister), Terry Smith (wrote Far Side Banks of Jordan for
Johnny & June Carter Cash), and over 650 pickers, players,
entertainers, and performers of traditional country music at this year’s
celebration. It last seven days, starting on Aug. 26, going through
Sept. 1, which is Boxcar’s birthday. There’s ten stages to accommodate
the many performers from 9am to midnight every day.”
America’s Country Music Hall of Fame is
located in the Pioneer Music Museum at Anita, Iowa. “It will be a real
treat to put Boxcar Willie in the Hall of Fame,” Everhart noted, “dirty
face, overalls, a floppy hat, and all. ‘Real-deal’ country music has
been diminished by today’s so-called watered down country music. Tom
Petty recently said today’s country music is really ‘bad rock and roll
with a fiddle.” I guess I wouldn’t go that far in describing what the
media calls it, but I do know that Boxcar Willie, and Boxcar Willie
Jr., are the ‘real-deal’ when it comes to authentic country music. I
hope Marty has enough time to visit that same railroad crossing near
Lincoln, Nebr., that his dad did. Who knows, there might be another
great country song there.”
located in the Pioneer Music Museum at Anita, Iowa. “It will be a real
treat to put Boxcar Willie in the Hall of Fame,” Everhart noted, “dirty
face, overalls, a floppy hat, and all. ‘Real-deal’ country music has
been diminished by today’s so-called watered down country music. Tom
Petty recently said today’s country music is really ‘bad rock and roll
with a fiddle.” I guess I wouldn’t go that far in describing what the
media calls it, but I do know that Boxcar Willie, and Boxcar Willie
Jr., are the ‘real-deal’ when it comes to authentic country music. I
hope Marty has enough time to visit that same railroad crossing near
Lincoln, Nebr., that his dad did. Who knows, there might be another
great country song there.”
More information about the festival, the NTCMA, and America’s Country Music Hall of Fame can be found at www.ntcma.net