Boxcar Willie
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| Boxcar Willie | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Lecil Travis Martin |
| Born | September 1, 1931 Red Oak, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 12, 1999 (aged 67) |
| Genre(s) | Country, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, guitar. |
| Website | http://www.boxcarwillie.com/ |
Boxcar Willie (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999) was an American "hobo music" singer.
Born Lecil Travis Martin near the town of Ovilla, Texas, Boxcar Willie was an American country music singer who sang in the "hobo music" style. In 1949, Martin joined the United States Air Force, became a pilot and flight engineer for the B-29 Super Fortress during the Korean War in the early-1950s.
In Lincoln, Nebraska, Martin was sitting at a railroad crossing and a fellow that closely resembled his chief boom operator, Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in a boxcar. He said, "There goes Willie." He pulled over and wrote a song entitled "Boxcar Willie."[citation needed] It eventually stuck and became Martin's nickname.
In 1962, Martin met his future wife, Lloene, in Boise, Idaho. They would later have four children together. Paula Kay, twins Larry Brown & Lorry Gene, and the baby of the family Tammy Lee. Paula Kay has two children Janea & Christian, Larry has two children Tiffay & Christopher, Lorry Gene has two children also Gabrielle & Gavin, Tammy Lee has two children Amanda Lloene & William Travis.
In San Jose, California, Martin attended a talent show as "Boxcar Willie" and performed under the nickname for the first time. He won first place, a $150 prize and a nickname that he would forever go by.
That was his part-time vocation, however; he was still in the Air Force and had been flying daily missions. In 1976, Martin left the Air Force and became a full-time performer. He went on to become a star in country music, selling more than 10 million records, tapes and CDs world-wide. In 1981, Martin achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry as its 60th member.
In 1985, Martin moved to Branson, Missouri and purchased a theater on Highway 76, or 76 Country Music Boulevard. In addition to the Boxcar Willie Theater, he opened a museum and eventually had 2 motels, all bearing his name. Boxcar Willie was one of the first big stars to open a show in Branson, paving the way for the other nationally-known names that followed.[1] He performed at his theater in Branson until he died.
On Halloween in 1996, Martin was diagnosed with leukemia. On April 12, 1999, in Branson, Martin died of leukemia at age 67.
The overpass at Interstate 35E and Farm to Market Road 664 in Red Oak, Texas (also known as Ovilla Road, approximately four miles east of Ovilla) was renamed "Boxcar Willie Memorial Overpass" after a major reconstruction project.
[edit] Notes
- ^ SalonPeople Obituary:BoxCar Willie, April 14, 1999. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
[edit] References
- CNN obituary for Boxcar Willie
- Official website
- Salon.com obituary for Boxcar Willie
- Trott, Walt (1998). "Boxcar Willie". In The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 47.
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Willie, Boxcar |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | American singer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | September 1, 1931 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Ovilla, Texas |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 12, 1999 |
| PLACE OF DEATH | Branson, Missouri |
