Marty Robbins

Martin David Robinson (September 26, 1925 – December 8, 1982), known professionally as Marty Robbins, was an American country and western singer and songwriter. He was one of the most popular and successful singers of his genre for most of his nearly four-decade career, which spanned from the late 1940s to the early 1980s. He was also an early outlaw country pioneer.

Born in Glendale, Arizona, Robbins taught himself guitar while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and subsequently drew fame performing in clubs in and around his hometown. In 1952, he released his first number-one country song, "I'll Go On Alone". Four years later, he released his second number-one hit "Singing the Blues", and one year later, released two more number-one hits, "A White Sport Coat" and "The Story of My Life". In 1959, Robbins released his signature song, "El Paso", for which he won the Grammy Award for Best Country and Western Recording. The song began Robbins' association with Western balladry, a style that became a staple of his career. His later releases that drew critical acclaim include "Don't Worry", "Big Iron", "Devil Woman", and "Honkytonk Man", the last for which the 1982 Clint Eastwood film is named, and in which Robbins made his final appearance before his death.

Over the course of his career, Robbins recorded more than 500 songs and 60 albums, and won two Grammy Awards, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, and was named the 1960s Artist of the Decade by the Academy of Country Music. His songs "El Paso" and "Big Iron" were ranked by the Western Writers of America among the top-100 Western songs of all time. Robbins was a commercial success in both the country and pop genres, and his songs were covered by many other famous artists, including Johnny Cash, the Grateful Dead, and Elvis Presley. Johnny Cash noted, "there's no greater country singer than Marty Robbins." His music continues to have an influence in pop culture today, featuring prominently in several films, television shows, and video games.

Birth and Death Data: Born Glendale (city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States), Died December 8, 1981 (Nashville (capital and largest city of Tennessee, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1951 - 1972

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist, composer, guitar, lyricist, whistling

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 65 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia RHCO10038 10-in. 11/14/1951 Tomorrow you'll be gone Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia RHCO10039 10-in. 11/14/1951 I wish somebody loved me Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia RHCO10040 10-in. 11/14/1951 Love me or leave me alone Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia RHCO10041 10-in. 11/14/1951 Crying 'cause I love you Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia RHCO10310 10-in. September 1952 What good is my love (if it's wasted) Smiley Maxedon ; Okaw Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band composer, lyricist  
Columbia RHCO10311 10-in. September 1952 We can't live together Smiley Maxedon ; Okaw Valley Boys Male vocal solo, with string band composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO48023 10-in. 6/3/1952 I'll go on alone Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO48024 10-in. 6/3/1952 Pretty words Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO48025 10-in. 6/3/1952 You're breaking my heart (while you're holding my hand) Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO48487 10-in. 11/26/1952 I couldn't keep from crying Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO48490 10-in. 11/26/1952 After you leave Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49152 10-in. 3/31/1953 A castle in the sky Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49153 10-in. 3/31/1953 Your heart's turn to break Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49515 10-in. 6/6/1953 Sing me something sentimental Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49516 10-in. 6/6/1953 At the end of a long, lonely day Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49517 10-in. 6/6/1953 Blessed Jesus, should I fall don't let me lay Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49518 10-in. 6/6/1953 Kneel and let the Lord take your load Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49964 10-in. 9/19/1953 Don't make me ashamed Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO49965 10-in. 9/19/1953 It's a long, long ride Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO50668 10-in. 12/19/1953 My isle of golden dreams Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia CO50669 10-in. 12/19/1953 Have thine own way, Lord Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia CO50670 10-in. 12/19/1953 God understands Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO50671 10-in. 12/19/1953 Aloha oe (farewell to thee) Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar  
Columbia CO51616 10-in. 5/29/1954 I'm too big to cry Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
Columbia CO51617 10-in. 5/29/1954 Call me up (and I'll come calling on you) Marty Robbins Male vocal solo, with string band vocalist, instrumentalist, guitar, composer, lyricist  
(Results 1-25 of 65 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Robbins, Marty," accessed December 24, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208570.

Robbins, Marty. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 24, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208570.

"Robbins, Marty." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 24 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/208570

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