AllMovie

Independent filmmaker George Goehl directs the music documentary King of Bluegrass: The Life & Times of Jimmy Martin. Born in Sneedville, TN, in 1927, Jimmy Martin recorded with bluegrass legend Bill Monroe for four years, greatly influencing the trademark high lonesome sound. In the mid-'50s, he split to form the Sunny Mountain Boys. He's performed on the Louisiana Hayride and the Wheeling Jamboree in West Virginia, but never became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Goehl and his film crew capture 75-year-old Martin still touring the American South and the Midwest with his band. This documentary blends live performances with archival footage and interviews with country stars like Ralph Stanley, Marty Stuart, and Paul Williams. King of Bluegrass was featured at many film festivals before being released on DVD by Thrill Jockey in 2004.