Don't Give Your Heart to a Rambler

Reviews / Votes

"Set in the heyday of bluegrass and country music, Don't Give Your Heart to a Rambler is filled with famous names . . . and sparkles with the excitement of those times."--Bookreporter.com "[Don't Give your Heart to a Rambler] stands as a testament to survival, the will to persist, and the importance of choices in forging a life."--Ted Lehman's Bluegrass, Books, and Brainstorms "Don't Give Your Heart to a Rambler offers a fascinating look into the world of bluegrass during the 1950s and 60s." --Bluegrass Breakdown "A rare insider's view of Nashville's music scene and of how life with a famous bluegrass musician used to be, this account also gives a good impression of what social roles women were expected to fulfill, no matter how their husbands acted."--popcultureshelf "I've often said I wanted to know more about performers lives, with all their warts showing. Barbara Martin Stephens has achieved that for Jimmy Martin. Human beings are complex. Our stories are never simple, and she has written her story, revealing a life and keeping it true."--No Depression "There is not another book as direct and revealing about the socioeconomic background of a major bluegrass artist. . . . Barbara Martin Stephens has given us a unique and intimate memoir of those years."--Marian Leighton Levy "A fascinating book. . . . There's never been a book quite like this in the bluegrass world."--Ken Irwin "After reading this book, fans should have a broader knowledge of Martin's flamboyant personality and the complex, conflicted character he displayed away from the spotlight."-Bluegrass Unlimited
"For anyone who has ever yearned to know more about the man behind the boisterous King of Bluegrass personality, Don't Give Your Heart to a Rambler should certainly offer an intriguing perspective."--Bluegrass Today
"While the music of Jimmy Martin is documented for the ages, his detailed personal life has never been so thoroughly told until now. Barbara Martin lived with the man, bore four of his children, and served as his manager and booking agent during the glory days when he was known as 'Mr. Good 'N Country Music.' Brutally honest, this book runs the gamut of emotions giving us a first-person account of one the most talented-yet complicated-performers during the golden years of country and bluegrass music." -Eddie Stubbs, WSM Grand Ole Opry Announcer
"Jimmy Martin was a sparkling stylist, both as a singer and a guitarist, a brilliant showman whom few could follow onstage, and a tortured soul who once, when I simply said hello to him at the Grand Ole Opry, threatened to whip my ass right there on the side of the stage. I met Jimmy early in my career and thought I knew him fairly well. After reading Barbara's painfully honest portrayal, however, I realize I hardly knew him at all."--Bill Anderson
"I can't say enough good things about Barbara Martin and her influence on bluegrass music. She was an early pioneer with booking and representing her artist partner Jimmy Martin. The new venues she was able to put Jimmy into with his music was not easy in any way because Bluegrass is a music that is only appreciated by being watched and performed. Barbara was on the ground floor of all concerts and shows that was the forerunner of bluegrass festivals as we know them today. Thanks again Barbara for all your hard work, courage, many years of hearing no from promoters and telling us your story with this book."--Ronnie Reno
"Barbara Martin has written a fascinating book about her years with Jimmy Martin, the King of Bluegrass. If you are a fan of Jimmy Martin-the artist or the man-buy this book to understand more about both."--Jesse McReynolds