Marty Falle Goes to Number One!
Title song from Kentucky Blue Star goes to the top spot on Bluegrass Jamboree’s Top 100
By Lee Zimmerman for Country Music News International Magazine
Singer/songwriter Marty Falle’s initial interest in bluegrass was spawned from watching re-runs of “The Andy Griffith Show,” which featured a fictional band called the Darlings, otherwise known in real-life as The Dillards. Although he insists that he never had any real interest in pursuing a music career and, as he puts it, “making it big,” he’s clearly found success, whether he was seeking it or not.
That’s been realized now given the fact that his single, “Kentucky Blue Star,” from the album of the same name, has climbed to the top of the charts. On August 1, it went to Number One on the Bluegrass Jamboree Top 100. Considering the fact that this is only his second album devoted entirely to Bluegrass, that’s quite an accomplishment. Falle’s “Kentucky Bluestar” continues to be a fixture in the 2023 Spring and Summer Bluegrass Charts. The song debuted at #6 on the Bluegrass Today Singles Chart, was #5 in May and #2 in June on The Bluegrass Jamboree Top 100 charts. The album of the same name reached #8 on the Top 50 APD Bluegrass / Folk Albums for April 2023.
“We did it,” Falle says, summing his sentiments up succinctly.
Yet given the song’s infectious and engaging melody and a lyric that effectively draws the listener — “Kentucky Bluestar, you’re the one for me!” — its irresistible appeal is practically a given. So too, it confirms what Falle’s been saying all along.
“God gave me a talent. A gift. My goal is to actualize that gift. “
The current album — his fifth overall — featured an exceptional cast of musicians helping him realize his vision — among them, producer, fiddler and mandolin player Jonathan Yudkin, guitarist Carl Miner, bassist Mike Bub, Grammy winner Rob Ickes on dobro, Matt Menefee on banjo, and Marty Slayton (George Strait) and Kim Parent (Brooks and Dunn) supplying backing vocals.
“Kentucky Bluestar” is representative of the album overall, given its rousing refrain, enthusiastic expression and a decidedly down-home authenticity. It basks in bluegrass basics while sharing Falle’s own singular style. It’s also one of ten songs on the album penned by Falle himself.
A combination musician and entrepreneur, Falle’s abilities have allowed him to exceed in the realms of both art and business. Aside from his critical kudos — one of his songs, “Superman Jimmie,” even got him coverage in a NASCAR publication — he’s been featured on CMT Prime Time courtesy of his song “Hoochie Coochie Gal from the Buckeye State,” which in turn garnered over three million views on YouTube and became a certified internet sensation. In April 2023, Falle was featured in Bluegrass Today – https://bluegrasstoday.com/marty-falle-talks-songwriting-and-love-for-bluegrass/In June 2023, Falle was selected for the cover of The Bluegrass Standard Magazine – https://www.thebluegrassstandard.com/post/falle-s-kentucky-blue-star-new-album-new-perspective
Now, with the success of “Kentucky Bluestar,” Falle has hit another peak and plateau. When a record hits Number One, it’s akin to soaring into the stratosphere.