Odell Martin

James O'Dell Martin (November 25, 1938 – July 21, 1985) was an American guitarist, a pioneer of the thumb-picker guitar style, and a member of the National Thumbpickers Hall of Fame. 
==Personal Life==
O'Dell Martin was one of five children born at his family's 200-acre tobacco farm located near Allegre, Kentucky to Alma Ellis Shanklin, and Chester Martin. As a child, O'Dell claimed to show little interest in committing to laboring in the family tradition of agriculture, but displayed an unwavering interest in the musical radio program the Grand Ole Opry. At the age of 13, O'Dell's mother Alma Ellis gave O'Dell a Sears & Roebuck Silvertone Guitar and taught him to play. The first song O'Dell was taught was "Mother" Maybelle Carter's "Wildwood Flower." O'Dell possessed a keen understanding of musical trends and rhythm promoting and pioneering alongside other thumbpicking artists, the American Thumbpicking style. At the request of his father Chester, O'Dell completed high-school at Clifty School in Clifty, Kentucky before fully committing to a career in music.
in the 1960s, O'Dell met Judith Elaine Bess at her father's honky-tonk bar, Tootsie's Orchid Lounge. On June 15, 1961, the couple were wed, thereafter having four children together.
==Career==
In the 1950s, O'Dell and his close friend Paul Yandell, left their childhood homes in Kentucky for Nashville, Tennessee to pursue careers in the music industry hoping to land a regular role on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry. The pair initially roomed together in Nashville. Yandell achieved a job as a guitarist for Chet Akins, propelling his connections in the country music industry, which he used to help promote O'Dell into similar roles. 
In 1954, O'Dell landed a role as a guitarist on the Grand Ole Opry. O'Dell became well known among listeners and guests of the Grand Ole Opry for being a regular performing guitarists on the Grand Ole Opry Pet Milk Shows, supporting performers Bill Anderson, Patsy Cline, Faron Young, and Dottie West, among others. 
Thereafter, O'Dell toured with multiple performers including Kitty Wells, Donna Fargo, & Mel Tillis during the height of each musician's popularity. 
In 1960, O'Dell toured with Faron Young as a lead guitarist. During the 1970s, O'Dell toured with Mel Tillis. During this time, Tillis won the 1976 County Music Association's Entertainer of the Year Award at the 10th Annual CMA Awards. In 1976, "O'Dell wrote "David's Dance," after awaking from a dream in which he saw a biblical David dancing melodically while playing a harp. O'Dell pitched the song to Chet Akins and it was included on Akin's album, "Me and My Guitar." 
O'Dell primarily worked as a sideman for most of his career, often serving as band leader and opening act for many of the well known headlining acts for which he played. 
In the 1980s, O'Dell propelled the career of Billy Dean with who he toured for several years. O'Dell served as band leader for Dean, and introduced him to music publishers and label executives throughout Nashville.
==Death==
On July 21, 1985, in the early morning hours, O'Dell Martin was in route to Todd County, Kentucky. O'Dell had partnered with Libby Knight as a Master of Ceremonies and worked to bring up-and-coming artists from the Nashville country music circuit to perform as entertainers at the popular supper-club music venue. O'Dell lost control of his vehicle after passing out from exhaustion and died in the accident at the age of 46.
==Honors==
In 1999, O'Dell Martin was inducted into the American Thumbpickers Hall of Fame, along with his mother, Ellis Alma Shanklin Martin.
Category:1938 births
Category:People from Kentucky
Category:American people
Category:Guitarists
Category:Pioneers
Category:1985 deaths