Quiz

According to a 1982 interview, was outside in his back yard on the afternoon of July 31, 1964, during a severe thunderstorm, when he heard a low flying plane go directly overhead. He said, "I thought to myself, either he's a hell of a pilot or he's in trouble, because you just wouldn't be intentionally flying that low in that kind of a storm. A few seconds later, I heard it crash". Shortly afterward, he found out that the pilot of the plane was his friend and fellow Country Music star Jim Reeves. Reeves and his manager/piano player Dean Manuel were both killed in the crash, although their bodies and the wreckage weren't found until two days later, August 2.

Recipient of the first triple bypass heart operation in the world.

"Don't Worry" (his 1961 No. 1 hit on Billboard magazine's country singles charts (10 weeks)) was the first recorded song to include the "fuzz" effect. A fuse had blown in the control room during recording and as a result, Grady Martin's lead guitar solo came out with the "fuzz" result. It was not discovered until the song was being played back; while others groaned the song would have to be re-recorded, Robbins liked the effect and left it in.

One of the Grand Ole Opry's most popular performers from 1955 until his death, Robbins would usually close the Saturday night late show with an extended set whenever he was in Nashville, always to a warm reception from the audience.

Marty Robbins was a respected Nascar Winston Cup/ Grand National racer, as well as a car owner. Mr. Robbins competed in 35 races, between 1966 to 1982. His best placings was a 5th at Michigan, June 16, 1974 and a 9th at Talladega, August 11, 1974. He was also a regular competitor at the Nashville Speedway in the late model division. Many times rushing to appear at the Grand Ole Opry after running the Saturday night feature race. He raced late model stock cars from 1965 until a month before he died.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 6666 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Scored 16 No. 1 hits on Billboard magazine's country singles charts. His 1960 No. 1 hit, "El Paso," was also No. 1 on the Hot 100 charts for two weeks in January 1960, making it the first chart-topper of that decade.

Toured with Elvis Presley in 1955.

Country-western singer

Inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982.

He was a dear, close friend of La Melle Prince, a Black Country & Western singer and performer who was signed to Decca Records, Nashville, Tennessee. (1969); her record producer was the late Owen Bradley), who was instrumental in her music career by helping her get signed with Decca Records.

Father of Ronny Robbins

Two of his hits - "Singing the Blues" and "Knee Deep in the Blues" - (both written by Melvin Endsley) were major pop hits for Guy Mitchell.

Marty started 22nd and finished 7th in the 1971 Miller 500 at Ontario (CA) Motor Speedway.

Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 683-685. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.