We remember a Branson icon on what would have been his 93rd birthday.
Lecil Travis Martin aka Box Car Willie, came into this world on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 1931, to Birdie and Edna Mae Martin in Sterrett, TX. His father worked on the railroad. The family home wasn't too far from the railroad tracks and that is where he perfected his "Train Whistle." His father also played a fiddle, his family all sang, and Lecil was raised on music from Jimmie Rodgers, Ernest Tubb, Roy Acuff and Hank Williams. Box Car stated, "We were poor, and we couldn't go anywhere and did not have a victrola. We barely had enough money to buy a battery to listen to the Grand Ole Opry on the radio on Saturday night. We made our own music and our own entertainment.
Since my dad worked for the railroad, I had a full train set in my front yard, but it was the real thing. We had real hobos that would come and work for their suppers. They were not beggars; they would help with the chores or whatever was needed for their meals. Everyone was poor during those days. As the trains would go by, we would see them in the dining cars eating and smoking their cigars. That was a whole 'nother world from us. So, I can state that I actually lived those hobo lives, and I feel the part."
When he became a teenager, he performed under the name of "Marty Martin," in the Dallas area. When he was 16, he landed a job as a regular on the Big D Jamboree radio show. In 1949 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He served 22 years as a flight engineer, while retiring at rank "Master Sargeant." He served during the Korean War. His service would include dangerous missions for refueling in-flight fighter aircraft assignments in Europe. He would be involved in the Operation Creek Party. He continued his music while he was enlisted. He penned a song that would become his nickname while he served. He even won a talent show under his "Box Car Willie" name, during his service. While enlisted he met his bride, "Lloene Johnson," in Boise, ID. They would have four children.
After he retired from the military, he developed and perfected his hobo character, Box Car Willie. Also, he would become the "World's Favorite Hobo." He sold over ten million records during his career, selling over 500,000 copies in England alone. He stated, "My first album 'King Of The Road' sold over 3 million copies. Television people promoted the album for me here in the U.S. At one time, it was selling in excess of over 50,000 copies a week and continued to sell 5,000 copies a month." He was on record labels in the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ireland, achieving a total of 15 gold and four platinum albums, recording duets with Roy Acuff, Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, Jr. He recorded his song, "Good Hearted Woman" with a German country singer, Gunter Gabriel, that was sung partly German and English. "The music that I sing is what I can feel." He appeared in three movies, with the last being in the Patsy Cline life movie, "Sweet Dreams."
In 1981, he became the 60th member of the Grand Ole Opry. The rewards that also came to Box Car include International Entertainer of the Year in Great Britain in 1978 and 1979; album of the year in England in 1979; and in 1981, at the Music City Awards, as the Most Promising New Male Artist. He was also nominated for the Horizon Award by the Country Music Association Awards in 1981. In 1992, he was featured on the second season premiere of "Tracks Ahead" in which he performed with his band at his theater. He was a cast member of “Hee-Haw” TV show. In 1988, he narrated a video entitled "The Greats of the Grand Ole Opry." He released country and gospel albums.
He wanted to get off the road to spend time with his family, so his choice was to retire and move to Nashville and just do the Grand Ole Opry or move to Branson and not retire, but still have something to do with his wife and family. Box Car gave up a role in a Broadway play to come to Branson. He would buy his theatre in 1985 (present day-Dutton Theatre), and he would also open a museum (featuring the KC97-L cockpit, six engine plane that he had flown in) and have two hotels under his name. He had stated, " I don't think there is a better part of the U.S. that a fellow can move to such as the Branson area. He was one of the first major entertainers to come to Branson to open a theatre. He would bring his band, "The Texas Trainmen" from Texas with him and start his show here. The band would include band director Chuck Jennings who also played lead guitar, Harland Powell on steel guitar/comedy, David Byrd on piano, Larry Cox on bass guitar/vocals, George Uptmor on fiddle, World Champion Fiddler-Dale Morris Jr., and Wayne Bennett on drums. He featured two female vocalists, "Hobo Honeys," Jeannie Bryant, who was formerly with Ken "Festus" Curtis of “Gunsmoke”/Sons Of The Pioneers fame, and Mary Lou Turner who was with the "Whispering" Bill Anderson Show for seven years.
During his show, he would do impersonations of other stars. He would enjoy doing his show up until his death in 1999. Box Car would have a street named after him here in Branson. He also had an overpass named after him on Interstate 35E in Red Oak, TX, and a park named after him in Washington, D.C.
Box Car was a very caring, humble and giving man. He was personable to his fans and would meet and greet them after the show. eople have said that he was a down-to-earth man, had a larger-than-life personality and was a very happy-go-lucky man. Sporting a wide smile, infectious smile. and he counted your friendship above all else, always taking time to talk to the media, his fans and anyone else that would listen. When he passed, it was said that he left a void in the country music world.
So, I honor this man and his legacy that he has put on us here in Branson and all over the world.
Thank you, Box Car, and Happy Heavenly Birthday!
I, as your writer, for this story borrowed several references. Over my years, I have met "stars" and been excited to do so. I wished this is one man that I could have met and seen in person in his element. I am just happy that he chose Branson to finalize his career with. He chose this small town over the "Big Life" that he could have had anywhere that he wanted, and I'm glad that he chose here. I have often heard people state that Branson is just a "washed up wanna-be's town," but if you would just look into what really happened here in the beginning and is still continuing, you will find that is not a true statement and that Branson is thriving with all kinds of people who are stars!
When I first came to Branson on a band/choir trip, I loved Branson. During that trip, my best friend, Rhonda, and I made the comment that we were going to move here after high school. I had always been so close as a kid coming to Springfield to visit family and attend family reunions but was never able to come to Branson until my high school years. My family owned a small farm area outside of Springfield before I was born. That is why I feel that I'm not just an implant, but somehow feel tied to this area and appreciate this area. And now my tie is stronger because I am married to a seventh generation Bransonite, John Fullerton, whose last name is the same as my other best friend from high school husband's name. We're still trying to figure out the possible family connections. God always has a strange way of doing things.
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