Marty Stuart has dedicated his life to playing and preserving old country music. During his 40-plus years as a solo artist, Marty has released more than 20 albums and racked up numerous honors, including five Grammys, and an induction into the Country Music Hall Of Fame.

Marty started his career at the age of 12 playing mandolin in a gospel band. By 21, he’d joined Johnny Cash’s touring band, and eventually became a solo artist who combined classic rockabilly sounds with bluegrass and cosmic country. His latest album has a sweeping, spacious feel that's meant to conjure up visions of desert horizons and endless stretches of two-lane highways.

For today’s episode, Bruce Headlam met up with Marty Stuart at Bridge Studios in Brooklyn. Marty shared stories about first going on the road with the Sullivan Family Gospel Singers, and the very first show he ever played backing Johnny Cash where Marty pretended to know how to play the fiddle. Marty also talks about how a star-studded studio session with Roy Orbison, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis gave him the confidence to pursue a solo career in country music.

You can hear a playlist of some of our favorite Marty Stuart songs HERE.

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