Native American, Sonny Martin was born Sonny Throckmorton in St. Louis, Missouri. Sonny lived at Boys Town Of Missouri in St. James, Missouri from the age of six to the age of fourteen. Sonny was discovered by legendary country star, Red Foley, when Sonny appeared at a benefit show and talent contest. Sonny won first place in the contest an was awarded an invitation to appear on The Ozark Jubilee in Springfield, Missouri.
While at Boys Town Sonny\'s music teacher, Mrs. Levita Damaron, taught him how to play the saxophone. Thus, a unique style of country and R&B sax was born.
Upon leaving Boys Town and relocating to St. Louis Sonny auditioned and went to work playing sax for the great Chuck Berry. Sonny moved on to play sax for Ike & Tina Turner, The legendary Fats Domino, and blues king, B. B.. King.
Sonny\'s unique style of saxophone play resulted in his name being placed in the Rolling Stone\'s book, The History Of Rock N\' Roll as one of music\'s top innovators.
In 1969 Sonny relocated to Hollywood from Nashville to pursue an acting career. He appeared in the motion picture \"W.W. AND THE DIXIE DANCE KINGS\", \"WALKING TALL-PART 1\", \"SMOKEY AND THE BANDIT-PART1\", \"HOOPER, THE GREATEST STUNTMAN ALIVE\", and \"HONEYSUCKLE ROSE\". Sonny made numerous television and talk show appearances, and had his own television show, \"CALIFORNIA COUNTRY\".
In 1978 Sonny returned to Nashville to record \"TRUCK DRIVIN\' MAN\" that earned him a gold record and many millions of fans.
A message concerning Sonny, from the main man behind THE COUNTRY MUSIC PLANET, Jerry Mac. \"Sonny Martin is definitely a professional. I have had the pleasure of working with thousands of entertainers over the last 44 years that I\'ve spent in the music Industry, and I know of no one I would rather be traveling down the road with. Sonny puts on as energetic a show as anyone I\'ve ever been around. He\'s a delight to be with - both on and off stage, and no one surpasses Sonny when it comes to treating his many fans as though each one of them was his best friend. The only words to express my feelings about Sonny is by saying, \"What A Guy!\".
Jerry Mac
Through the years Sonny has performed with Country and Rock N\' Roll superstars: JERRY LEE LEWIS, WAYLON JENNINGS, GEORGE JONES, TAMMY WYNETTE, HANK WILLIAMS, JR., FARON YOUNG, WEBB PIERCE, RAY PRICE, CARL SMITH, DOLLY PARTON, KENNY ROGERS, MERLE HAGGARD, STEVIE WONDER, RAY CHARLES, THE DRIFTERS, THE COASTERS, THE PLATTERS, THE SHIRELLES, and many more.
Sonny was one of the first entertainers to be inducted into \"Country Music Legends Hall Of Fame\" in Myrtle Beach, SC. This honor was bestowed upon him on March 18, 1996.
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