Inductees | Layng Martine Jr.

Layng Martine Jr.

Induction Year: 2013

Birth Name: Layng Martine Jr.

Birth Date: 03-24-1942

Place of Birth: New York, New York

Layng Martine Jr. has been a steady presence on the country and pop charts for more than four decades. After growing up in Connecticut, he began his songwriting career in New York City, while still a college student at Columbia University. He landed his first charted record with r&b artist Walter Jackson in 1966. Other early pop recordings were with such artists as Bo Diddley, Glenn Yarbrough, The New Christy Minstrels and Brian Hyland. While in New York, Martine also recorded for several labels as an artist. Even so, music didn't make his living; advertising did.

After four years working on Madison Avenue, he quit to buy and run two small restaurants. But Martine continued to write songs. In 1970, he flew to Nashville and made contact with singer-songwriter-producer Ray Stevens. He was signed as a writer and artist by Stevens, who produced a 1971 pop single of Martine singing "Rub It In," which Martine wrote.

When the songwriter's restaurants failed, he was faced with a decision of whether to go back into advertising or pursue his dream. With the encouragement of wife Linda, he chose the latter. In 1972, he relocated to Nashville with Linda and their two children. He worked as a bartender and a teamster and continued to write for Ray Stevens. Martine also continued to record solo singles.

His first big hit song in Nashville was a 1974 remake of "Rub It In," sung by Billy "Crash" Craddock. It later became the long-running television ad jingle "Plug It In." Martine wrote Reba McEntire's first charted hit ("I Don't Want to Be a One Night Stand"), as well as Elvis Presley's final one while he was alive ("Way Down"). The song was at No.1 on the day that Presley died. One of his most successful songs was McEntire's version of "The Greatest Man I Never Knew."

Martine has written hits for Pam Tillis, Trisha Yearwood, The Pointer Sisters, Cristy Lane and Barry Manilow, as well as McEntire. His Nashville songs have also been recorded by such artists as Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Crystal Gayle, Kathy Mattea, John Anderson, Don Williams and Tanya Tucker, among others. The songwriter has had notable success on the European charts. His songs have been No. 1 hits in England and France. Danish artists have also recorded his tunes.

Song Catalog Highlights

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"I Wanna Go Too Far"(written with Kent Robbins)

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"Rub It In"

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"Should I Do It"

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"The Greatest Man I Never Knew"(written with Richard Leigh)

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"Way Down"

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Song Catalog

"Ambush"

Ronnie Sessions

1977

#30 country

"Believe In The Beat"

Carol Lynn Townes

1985

#25 dance, #56 U.K.

"Don't Boogie Woogie"

Ray Stevens

1974

Jerry Lee Lewis

1976

#58 country

Eddy Mitchall

1976

#1 France

Southern Hospitality

2013

"Every Night"

Pake McEntire

1986

#20 country

"Hubba Hubba"

Billy Crash Craddock

1978

#14 country

"I Don't Think Love Ought To Be That Way"

(written with Richard Mainegra)

Reba McEntire

1981

#13 country

"I Wanna Do It With You"

Barry Manilow

1982

#8 U.K.

The Pointer Sisters

1982

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"I Wanna Go Too Far"

(written with Kent Robbins)

Trisha Yearwood

1996

#9 country

"I Want To Be In Love"

Jacky Ward

1978

#24 country

"I Was Blown Away"

Pam Tillis

1995

#16 country

"I'm Gonna Love You Anyway"

Tanya Tucker

1976

Cristy Lane

1978

#10 country

"Just A Little Thing"

Billy Crash Craddock

1977

#28 country

"Maybe She's Human"

(written with Kent Robbins)

Kathy Mattea

1994

#34 country

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"Rub It In"

Layng Martine

1971

#65 pop

Dave Clark & Friends

1972

Billy Crash Craddock

1974

#1 country, #15 a/c, #16 pop

Mel Street

1974

Jack Jersey

1974

Tamra Rosanes

1992

Matt King

1999

#54 country

Mike Walker

2001

Jeff Bates

2006

Ray Stevens

2008

The Drifters

2013

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"Should I Do It"

Tanya Tucker

1981

#50 country

The Pointer Sisters

1982

#13 pop, #19 a/c, #50 U.K.

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"The Greatest Man I Never Knew"

(written with Richard Leigh)

Reba McEntire

1992

#3 country

Billy Dean

2009

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"Way Down"

Elvis Presley

1977

#1 country, #1 U.K., #1 France, #14 a/c, #18 pop

Catharine Wheel

1995

Status Quo

2000

"Wiggle Wiggle"

Ronnie Sessions

1976

#16 country

"Workin' My Way To Your Heart"

Dickey Lee

1980

#30 country

Other Media

Layng Martine Jr.

Induction Year: 2013