Today we’d like to introduce you to Marty Falle
Marty, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Parma, Ohio. I was one of several high school football players recruited to join a male-depleted high school choir, and quickly became a standout in the Normandy Senior High Choir, Pop Ensemble, Barbershop Quartet, Orchestra, and anything else that kept me out of Math Class and got me an automatic “A” grade for just showing up. I learned viola, saxophone, bass guitar, piano and guitar along the way. I fell in love with music, especially singing harmony vocals. In addition, I got involved with musicals, performing in “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat” and “Fiddler on the Roof”. Upon arriving at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. I was a tenor in the Ohio University Singers and OU Choral group. I created and fronted a band called “Voices”, playing bars and festivals, won a Battle of the Bands and played Byrd Arena. It was an amazing experience.
After college, I moved to the Eastern Kentucky Cornfields. I got a job selling Lawbooks. I bought my first pick-up truck and a pair of snake skin boots. The locals turned me on to Bluegrass and Bourbon. My bluegrass journey started after attending an outdoor Bluegrass Jamboree at the Renfro Valley Barn Dance near Mount Vernon, KY. Hillbilly music and culture is intoxicating. I eventually bought a farm near in Jackson County, KY. Early in my career, I wrote songs and made my first demos in Kentucky with members of The Judd’s and Keith Whitley’s band. I was encouraged to take my songwriting and recording to Nashville where I met Grammy Winning Producer Jonathan Yudkin, who took an interest in me and we have recorded over 100 songs, mostly Bluegrass.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have been enormously blessed in my life. My beautiful wife and amazing son, my friends, my faith, my music and my business life – bountiful blessings for sure, but the road got rocky and very suddenly. For years I did charity work for the American Cancer Society, playing Cattle Baron Events, not knowing that I too would be stricken with cancer.
Tests revealed that I had an advanced stage of prostate cancer. My Grandfather died as a result of prostate cancer when he was 49 years old, so I knew there was family history, but it snuck up on me. If not for my wife’s persistence to get testing and press the oncologist for the biopsy, I probably would not have survived. I underwent a radical prostatectomy, but had a serious setback – a life-threatening Lymphocele postsurgical complication – that kept me hospitalized for five days until I stabilized. After initial optimism, the cancer returned requiring eight weeks of radiation. Some days I felt like a warrior; other days I wasn’t sure I’d survive.
It was a tough year, but with God’s grace, strong support from my family and a stubbornness to fight this, I am grateful to say that I am cancer free and back to 100%.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
At my core, I am a songwriter. I have a passion for writing songs, especially stories. I am always writing. Over the course of my music career I have written, produced, and recorded over 100 songs. I am fortunate that my Bluegrass songs are played all over the world. I am overwhelmed by the success and I am grateful to Bluegrass Radio. I just released my sixth album called “Appalachia Rust”. The “Appalachia Rust” project is bolstered with contributions from Nashville royalty, which includes Becky Buller (vocals), Dale Ann Bradley (Vocals), Mike Bub (Acoustic Bass), Rob Ickes (Dobro), Josh Matheny (Dobro), Carl Miner (Guitar), Marty Slayton (Vocals), Matt Menefee (Banjo), Kim Parent (Vocals), Jordan Rainer (Vocals) and Jonathan Yudkin (Producer, Fiddle and Mandolin). In addition, I have been co-writing with my college bandmate, Jonathan Holmberg, including the Bluegrass hits, “Tumbleweed”, “Grampa’s Jukebox”, and “Sellathon Radio Show”. As a team, we have four #1 albums in just two years. What a ride! Seriously. I never thought this was possible.
We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I believe in the expression – “The harder I work, the luckier I get”. My work ethic was instilled in me at a very young age. I would collect bottles on the street so I can buy my Mom a Christmas gift. I had a paper route at 9 years old. I learned nothing is free and love does not pay the rent. You have to make it happen every day. I am accountable to myself and my family. I have always had a strong will to succeed. At times it is my worst enemy, because I do not know when to shut off the intensity, but in the end, it is all God’s Plan. I was blessed with certain talents and it is my job to actualize those talents. It’s a gift, and I do not intend to waste it.
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