Twentieth Century Drifter: The Life of Marty Robbins

[15] Back in the Groove

[15] Back in the Groove Marty worked mostly with Bobby Sykes and Don Winters for the next several years. He sold his bus, and Okie Jones found other employment. My Woman, My Woman, My Wife was Marty’s only album in 1970, with Columbia releasing two compilation albums. He appeared regularly on the Opry. “He made a striking figure up there on that stage in a white suit with navy pinstripes, a deep blue shirt and white patent footwear,” says Louise Mayer, vice president of his fan club, in describing his Opry appearance on July 11. “Thunderous applause brought about the encore we wanted so much. . . . Hal DurhamclosedtheshowagainstthewilloftheclamoringthousandsintheOle’ Opry House!” Fan club members moved outside to wait for Marty to appear 132 on the front steps. “It was long after the Opry show was over when finally all autographs were signed,” Mayer writes, “all pictures were taken, all fans had a chance for a little visit with him, that he’d found himself willing to leave.” Just as Marty was getting into his car, driven by Don Winters, a taxicab brought a load of autograph seekers, and Marty graciously signed autographs for them before he left.1 In August he headed back to Las Vegas for another four-week engagement at the Fremont Hotel. Winters and Sykes sang harmony. Jackie Knar, a fan who attended the show on August 16, said Marty “looked great, dressed in a striped sport jacket and gold pants.” Knar sat “with a lump in my throat looking at this man up there on stage appearing the picture of health and obviously enjoying every minute of what he was doing, then thinking of the many prayers I had said for someone I’d never met.”2 Two singles followed Marty’s number one “My Woman, My Woman, My Wife,”andbothreachedthetoptenas1970closed.He’drecorded“JolieGirl”in AprilandrerecordeditinJuly,alongwith“Padre.”Bothsongs(neitherofwhich he wrote) appeared on his Greatest Hits, Volume III album the following April. In a letter to his fan club, Marty addressed complaints about his choice of songs. “I thank all you fans for continuing to accept my records, even though some have not been as country as others,” he wrote. “Some people have been dissatisfied with the song ‘Jolie Girl.’ ‘It isn’t country,’ they say.” He reminded his fans, “I love all kinds of music, but country music is my favorite.” He said he wanted more people throughout the world to listen to and purchase country music. “I believe by recording different types of songs I stand a better chance of reaching more people than the artist that records one particular way,” he explained.“It’sthesameoldMartyRobbinsthatisdoingthesingingregardless of the type of song.”3 Some fans also criticized his changed appearance. Several members called him a hippie and resigned from the fan club when Marty’s hairstyle changed with the times. Fan club president Peggy Ann Munson took them to task for complainingabouthis“slightlylongerhairstyle.”Shesaid,“Hishairisstillshort, compared to some of the C&W stars. It’s just style, girls, and probably will not last any longer than your mini-skirt.”4 Actually, Marty’s wide sideburns were a more drastic change than the length of his hair, by then noticeably blond. He definitely embraced the ’70s look when he appeared on Ralph Emery’s October 13 simulcast during the annual deejay convention. Emery paired him 133 [ CH 15 ] Back in the Groove with Merle Haggard for the midnight show because “I knew how much Marty loved Merle Haggard’s singing, and with Merle the feeling was mutual.” Marty woreablue-and-whitecheckedsportjacketoveraredshirt,andEmerytoldhim, “You may not outsing Merle tonight, but you’ve sure outdressed him.” While sitting at the grand piano, Marty started on a political lecture about pollution and environment and how politicians and unions were to blame for the mess. “Merle Haggard looked like he wished he could fade into the stage backdrop as he stood there watching Marty carry on,” Emery recalls. When the show resumed after its scheduled break, Marty apologized and said he hadn’t meant tooffendanyone.AhighlightoftheeveningcamewhenHaggardworeMarty’s jacket and sang a near-perfect imitation of “Devil Woman,” even stretching for the high notes. Marty acted amazed and impressed, as if he’d never seen Haggard ’s performance before.5 When the television portion ended, Marty began signing autographs and posingforphotoswithfanswhosurroundedhim.Hethenreturnedtothepiano and—live on Emery’s radio show—rehearsed his songs for the next evening’s Country Music Association awards show...