Tony Martin: Mormon Songwriter

Tony J. Martin is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who is a chart-topping country music songwriter. He has fifteen number one songs, including “Just to See You Smile” recorded by Tim McGraw and “Third Rock from the Sun” recorded by Joe Diffie. He has written for Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, Josh Turner, and others. "Third Rock from the Sun" became the name of a network television show that aired from January 1996 to May 2001. "And yes, they pay to use that title for the TV show," Martin said. "They pay every week. It's a nice part-time job, let's put it that way."[1]

Martin was born and raised in the South. Although his father, Glenn Martin, was a songwriter, he wanted to be a newspaper reporter and earned a degree in journalism from Brigham Young University. He was working in Chicago at Time Magazine when country star George Strait recorded the tenth song Martin wrote (with his brother Troy), “Baby’s Gotten Good at Goodbye.” The song’s success caused Martin to realize he had a future in songwriting, and he (and his wife, Amethea) moved back home to Nashville. He worked as a correspondent for The Tennessean while he transitioned from journalist to songwriter. He was working a job as a weed eater while listening to music on headphones when he recognized the number one song being played as his own.[2]

He usually collaborates with other songwriters and doesn’t actually read music. He signed an exclusive contract with Sony/ATV Music Publishing in 2001. Martin was nominated for the 2002 Roughstock Country Music Awards as Songwriter of The Year. He is a member of BMI (Broadcast Music Incorporated).