The MagazineThe Martin EffectSetting the stage for a bluegrass revival?Dec 13, 2010, Vol. 16, No. 13
• By MICHAEL TAUBE
 Last year, a bluegrass musician took America by storm. A liberal Democrat by political persuasion, he’s had a storied career as a comedian, actor, and author/playwright. He also just might be the one person who can help bluegrass music reach greater heights and a wider audience. Who is it? Steve Martin.  Photo Credit: FilmMagic / Gary Miller At January’s Grammy Awards, Martin won Best Bluegrass Album for The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo. It’s his second musical Grammy: In 2002, he was part of a supergroup that won for Best Country Instrumental Performance with their version of “Foggy Mountain Breakdown.” Yet this award was the crown jewel in an incredible musical year for Martin, who has been playing the banjo for 45 years. Earlier, he was named Billboard Music’s Bluegrass Artist of the Year and earned Bluegrass Album of the Year. The Crow was ranked number one on Billboard for half of 2009, and was still number three this past July. Martin was also nominated for six International Bluegrass Awards. When he was invited to play on bluegrass musician Tony Trischka’s album Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular, released in 2007, Martin said that there were “at least 500 banjo players better than me that could score on traditional tunes.” Perhaps—but the 501st-best banjo player has the talent and personality to attract legions of new fans to come along for the ride. To read more, you must be a Weekly Standard Subscriber We're Sorry,
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