He has been called the hillbilly rocker, a music genius, and a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He is a native and proud son of the great state of Mississippi. Who else could this be, but Marty Stuart.

Marty was born September 30, 1958, in Philadelphia, Mississippi. to John and Hilda Stuart. Marty loved music at a very young age. His mother said he wouldn’t put a little music box he had down He would hold it for hours listening to 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star' over and over. He obtained his first guitar at age 3, it was only a crank up kind and by age 5 he wanted the real thing. Music has always been a big part of Marty’s life. This is one reason he has done so well; he loves it.

Marty’s music career began with a bluegrass band called "The Sullivans." They toured the South playing at festivals and churches on weekends and during the summer, Marty, though he was still in high school, longed to make his career in music take off. All he needed was a break. That break came when he met Roland White. Roland listened to Marty play the mandolin and he immediately heard talent. Roland gave him his phone number and told him to call if he could ever go on the road for a weekend.

Convincing his parents to let him go and promising to continue his studies, Marty began his music career. He toured with Lester Flatt from 1972 until Lester's death in 1979. Marty lost a hero and a friend, but the fire of music still burned in him and he moved on. He played with Bob Dylan, Waylon Jennings, Emmylou Harris, and Neil Young. He also toured with another hero of his, the great Johnny Cash. After staying with Johnny for six years and being a side man his whole career, he decided to go solo.

His first attempt was not as good as he had hoped with the release of his first album "Marty Stuart". After a less than successful first try, he went back to Mississippi to think things out and see what he wanted to do with the rest of his life. He decided that he still wanted to play music and got a job playing a mandolin in a band. Ultimately, he got a record deal with MCA and the rest is history. His current solo career has lasted from 1989 to the present with hits such as "Hillbilly Rock" and "Tempted".

Marty Stuart will be remembered as the man who combined bluegrass with southern rock. He is a great human being who loves his fans and we as Mississippians should be proud he is from our state.