Martin making music

By Staff
Jonathan Willis FCT Staff Writer
MUSCLE SHOALS-Sitting in his living room in the Shoals, Eddie Martin can't help but think of how his Franklin County roots have influenced his musical career.
Martin, a Russellville native, recently released his third full-length album project that features 14 of the 250-300 songs that he has written or co-written in the last 20 years.
The duo was honored by the Colorado and Alabama legislatures for the moving tribute to the students and teachers killed that day.
Martin said that the current album is a statement of how his life has been influenced by his family and his small town, southern roots.
Growing up in Russellville, Martin said that he often felt misplaced because of his different interests and the fact that he did not play high school football, but his family was a source of strength and encouragement and has been for everything that he has chosen to do in his life.
One of the songs on the album was written about his grandfather. Although he died when Martin was in the sixth grade, he credits him with many of the values and beliefs that he still holds today.
Gathering with his family to watch musical performances on television and listening to the music of Hank Williams and Merle Haggard struck a chord that he has never forgotten.
Last year, Russellville High School graduate Farrah Retherford, performed some of Martin's songs at the Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York City, including "I'm Gone" which was chosen as one of the 12 best songs out of 800 selections.
Though Martin has been singing since he was a child, his true passion is song writing.
The "Bigger than America" project includes songs with varying backgrounds and styles, from ballads to pop-rock.
Although he has written several hundred songs, he said that he never tires of it and he just goes where the music leads him.
Martin currently owns an independent publishing company. He worked with Fame Records in Muscle Shoals for years and helped to land recording artist Brian McKnight a large recording contract.
He continues to work with young and upcoming artists in the area.