Jimmy Martin was an influential figure in bluegrass music, known for his high, lonesome singing style and aggressive mandolin playing. Born in Tennessee in 1927, he joined Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys in 1949, contributing significantly to the development of the hard-driving style of bluegrass. Martin's own band, The Sunny Mountain Boys, featured legendary banjo player J.D. Crowe. His notable works include "Sunny Side of the Mountain" and "Free Born Man," both staples in the bluegrass canon.