Boxcar Willie

Lecil Travis Martin (September 1, 1931 – April 12, 1999), whose stage name was Boxcar Willie, was an American country music singer-songwriter, who sang in the "old-time hobo" music style, complete with dirty face, overalls, and a floppy hat. "Boxcar Willie" was originally a character in a ballad he wrote, but he later adopted it as his own stage name. His early musical career was parallel to service as an enlisted United States Air Force Flight Engineer.

Biography

According to his birth record, Martin was born in Ovilla, Texas to Birdie and Edna Mae Martin. He joined the United States Air Force in May 1949, and served as a flight engineer on the B-29 Super Fortress during the Korean War in the early 1950s. In Lincoln, Nebraska, Martin was once sitting at a railroad crossing and a fellow that closely resembled his chief boom operator, Willie Wilson, passed by sitting in a boxcar. He said, "There goes Willie." He pulled over and wrote a song entitled "Boxcar Willie". It eventually stuck and became Martin's nickname. In 1962, Martin met his future wife, Lloene, in Boise, Idaho. They later had four children.

In San Jose, California, Martin attended a talent show as "Boxcar Willie" and performed under that nickname for the first time. He won first place, a $150 prize and a nickname that he forever went by. That was his part-time vocation, however, for he was still in the Air Force and had been flying daily missions. In the early 1970s while assigned to the 136th Air Refueling Wing of the Texas Air National Guard, Martin served as a Flight Engineer aboard the Boeing KC-97 Stratofreighter and participated in Operation Creek Party. This operation provided critical in-flight refueling services for fighter aircraft assigned to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe for 10 consecutive years.
In 1976, Martin retired from the Air Force and became a full-time performer. One of his first national appearances was a win on Chuck Barris' ''The Gong Show''. In the late 70's Martin would travel to Grand Prairie, Texas where he would purchase hundreds of 8-track tapes pre-recorded with his music to later sell in various places. After He received a contract with other recording studios he discontinued his dealings with Cleo McDonald. He entered American mainstream pop culture consciousness due to a series of television commercials for record compilations of artists who were obscure in the United States, yet had large international followings, such as Slim Whitman and Gheorghe Zamfir. He went on to become a star in country music. In 1981, Martin achieved a professional landmark by being inducted into the ''Grand Ole Opry''. His was more than a US success too, with his 1980 album ''King of the Road'' giving him his greatest chart success by reaching No. 5 in the UK Albums Chart. Traveling around the world with his band, was his steadfast and trusty steel guitar player Chubby Howard, radio show host and musician for many years.

In 1985, Martin moved to Branson, Missouri and purchased a theater on Highway 76, or 76 Country Music Boulevard. In addition to the Boxcar Willie Theater, he opened a museum and eventually had two motels, both bearing his name. Boxcar Willie was one of the first big stars to open a show in Branson, paving the way for the other nationally known names that followed."BoxCar Willie"
, ''Salon'' obituary, April 14, 1999. He performed at his theater in Branson until his death.

On February 23, 1992, Boxcar Willie was featured on the Season 2 premier of ''Tracks Ahead'' in which he performed with his band at the Boxcar Willie Theater.

Death

Martin was diagnosed with leukemia in 1996, and died on April 12, 1999, in Branson, Missouri at the age of 67. He was buried at Ozarks Memorial Park in Branson. Major league baseball umpire "Cowboy" Joe West was among his pallbearers.

Legacy

After a major reconstruction project, the overpass at Interstate 35E and Farm to Market Road 664 in Red Oak, Texas (also known as Ovilla Road, approximately four miles east of Ovilla) was renamed Boxcar Willie Memorial Overpass. A small park, two blocks from the National Mall, near the L'Enfant Plaza station in Washington, D.C. was renamed Boxcar Willie Park. Boxcar Willie's legacy also includes being named "America's Favorite Hobo".

Discography

Albums

Singles

References

External links

*
*Trott, Walt (1998). "Boxcar Willie". In ''The Encyclopedia of Country Music''. Paul Kingsbury, Editor. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 47.
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Willie, Boxcar
1931 births
1999 deaths
20th-century American singers
American country singer-songwriters
American male singer-songwriters
Deaths from cancer in Missouri
Deaths from leukemia
Grand Ole Opry members
People from Branson, Missouri
People from Ellis County, Texas
Military personnel from Texas
Musicians from Lincoln, Nebraska
United States Air Force officers
Singer-songwriters from Texas
Singer-songwriters from Missouri
Country musicians from Texas
Country musicians from Missouri
20th-century American male singers
Singer-songwriters from Nebraska