Brad Martin

{{Short description|American country music singer-songwriter (1973–2022)}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| image =

| name = Brad Martin

| image_size =

| birth_name = Bradley Curtis Martin

| birth_date = {{birth date|1973|5|3}}

| birth_place = Chillicothe, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|2022|3|11|1973|5|3}}

| death_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

| instrument = Vocals

| genre = Country

| occupation = Singer-songwriter

| years_active = 2002–2022

| label = Epic, Curb

| past_member_of = Martin Ramey

}}

Bradley Curtis Martin (May 3, 1973 – March 11, 2022){{cite web |url=https://www.murrayfettro.com/obituary/bradley-martin|title=Bradley Curtis Martin 1973 - 2022 Obituary|date=|accessdate=August 13, 2022|website=murrayfettro.com}} was an American country music singer-songwriter. He made his debut on the American country music scene in 2002 with the release of his debut album Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel, which produced the No. 15 single "Before I Knew Better". In 2008, he and songwriter John Ramey briefly founded the duo Martin Ramey.

Biography

Martin was taught to play the guitar at an early age. He later gained an interest in songwriting, and moved to Nashville, Tennessee in his early 20s.[{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p304699/biography|pure_url=yes}} AllMusic ((( Brad Martin > Biography )))] He performed daily in a nightclub, and was eventually spotted by Joe Carter, an artist manager who had previously worked with Tracy Byrd.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/country-4688258|title=Country|website=LiveAbout.com}} Carter saw potential in the young artist and he was soon signed to Sony Epic Record Label.

Martin was signed to Epic Records in 2000. His debut single, "Before I Knew Better", was released in 2002, the first single from his debut album Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel. The album received a favorable review from About.com for its neotraditionalist sound.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liveabout.com/country-artists-similar-to-george-strait-933904|title=5 Country Artists Similar to George Strait|first=Shelly|last=Fabian|website=LiveAbout.com}} In addition, "Before I Knew Better" won an award from BMI for being among the fifty most played country songs of 2003.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1480197/20031105/id_0.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930040757/http://www.cmt.com/artists/news/1480197/20031105/id_0.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 30, 2007|website=Cmt.com |title=2003 BMI Award Winners}} However, the second single from Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel, "Rub Me The Right Way", failed to make Top 40, as did "Just Like Love". A non-album single, "One of Those Days", followed in 2003 before Martin exited Epic's roster. He remained inactive in country music until joining songwriter John Ramey to found the duo Martin Ramey in 2008. Martin Ramey signed to Curb Records that year.{{cite web|url=http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=907965|title=Martin Ramey|website=Soundclick.com|accessdate=June 6, 2009}}

Martin died in Nashville on March 11, 2022, at the age of 48.{{cite news |last1=Whitaker |first1=Sterling |title=Country Hitmaker Brad Martin Dead At 48 |url=https://tasteofcountry.com/country-singer-brad-martin-dead-dies/ |access-date=12 March 2022 |publisher=Taste of Country |date=12 March 2022}}

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"\| Title ! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"\| Album details ! colspan="2"\| Peak chart positions
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="45"\| US Country ! width="45"\| US Heat
scope="row"\| Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel \| Release date: June 18, 2002 Label: Epic Records \| 34 \| 32

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Title

! rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details

! colspan="2"| Peak chart
positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="45"| US Country

! width="45"| US Heat

scope="row"| Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel

Release date: June 18, 2002
Label: Epic Records

| 34

| 32

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"\| Year ! rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"\| Single ! colspan="2"\| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" \|Album
style="font-size:smaller;" ! width="45"\| US Country ! width="45"\| US Bubbling
rowspan="3"\| 2002 ! scope="row"\| "Before I Knew Better" \| 15 \| 8 \| align="left" rowspan="3"\| Wings of a Honky-Tonk Angel
scope="row"\| "Rub Me the Right Way" \| 51 \| —
scope="row"\| "Just Like Love" \| — \| —
2003 ! scope="row"\| "One of Those Days" \| 50 \| — \| {{NA}}
colspan="5" style="font-size:8pt"\| "—" denotes releases that did not chart

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2" style="width:14em;"| Single

! colspan="2"| Peak chart
positions

! rowspan="2" |Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="45"| US Country

! width="45"| US Bubbling

rowspan="3"| 2002

! scope="row"| "Before I Knew Better"

| 15

| 8