• ABOUT
    • Contact
    • The Team
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Events
    • FAQ
    • Use & Privacy Policy
  • ADVERTISE
  • ROWFAX
  • THE SPORTS CREDENTIAL
  • JOB LISTINGS
MusicRow.com
  • CALENDARS
    • Album/EP Releases
    • Single/Track Releases
    • Industry Events
  • OBITS
  • CHARTS
    • Radio Chart (Current)
    • Radio Chart (Archives)
    • No. 1 Challenge Coin
    • Songwriter Chart (Current)
    • Songwriter Chart (Archives)
  • REVIEWS
  • MY STORY
  • NEWSLETTER
    • Newsletter (Current)
    • SIGN UP (FREE!)
    • Newsletter (Archives)
  • SUBSCRIBE
  • STORE
  • Search
  • Menu Menu

Long-Time Business Manager Kirke Martin Passes

December 18, 2020/by LB Cantrell

Kirke Martin. Photo: Courtesy Bieber Public Relations

Kirke Martin, founder of Martin, Allbee, Miller, Bryan, & Associates, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 16 after battle with cancer. He was 70.

Martin was a business manager for 39 years working with Brad Paisley, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, T. Graham Brown, Tammy Wynette, Keith Whitley and many others, including a large roster of Christian artists.

Born Frederick Kirke Martin III on Jan. 13, 1950 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he was the only child of his parents Kirke and Jenny Martin. Martin was a graduate of North Hills High School and DePauw University. He was an accomplished football and baseball player and was nicknamed “Lurch” for his gentle demeanor and towering stature. Martin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Finance & Business and a master’s degree in Education, and was a proud member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

While studying abroad in Denmark, Martin met his eventual wife Margie. The two immediately fell in love and were married June 12, 1971. The newlyweds then moved to Nashville, Tennessee.

Martin founded his own music business firm in 1981, Martin and Associates (now Martin, Albee, Miller, Bryan and Associates). Martin was revered for his honesty, loyalty, and practicality, and his advice was sought after by many up-and-coming and established artists. During his 40 years in the Nashville music industry, Martin served on the boards of Leadership Music and Nashville Entertainment Association, and was a member of CMA and GMA. Martin was proud of his business, loved by his colleagues, and counted his clients as friends and family.

Martin and his wife raised four children—Kirke, Edward, Margo and Helen—and he spent most of the ’80s and ’90s coaching and watching soccer, baseball, ballet, and ice hockey. He spent his weekends traveling for his sons’ hockey games and was an integral part of growing the Nashville Youth Hockey League, serving as Board President for multiple terms.

The days up to his death were filled with laughter and tears, music and knitting, and the love of his devoted family.

Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick Kirke Martin Jr. and Jenny Helen Martin, and his parents-in-law, Edward A. and Marguerite Fish. Martin is survived by his beloved wife of 49.5 years, Margie, his children Kirke, Edward and Rachel Martin, Margo and David Cloniger, and Helen and Kris Nonn. As well as by his eleven beloved grandchildren, Samuel, Meridian, and Reuben Cloniger; Dylan, Rowan and Eamon Martin; Olive and McKay Martin; and Ryer, Marlow and Hollis Nonn. Martin is also survived by his dear chosen brother, Thom Schuyler (Sarah Tallu), his brothers-in-law Ed (Toni), John (Denice), and Walter Fish, his niece, nephews, cousins and by his friend, Henry Yarborough.

Due to the current restrictions imposed by COVID-19, there will be a small private service for the family. Martin’s family welcomes any written remembrances in celebration of his life. Please mail your remembrances to: The Martin Family care of MAMBA, P.O. Box 128287, Nashville, TN 37212, or email them to [email protected].

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to organizations near to the Martin family: The Store (P.O. Box 128287, Nashville, TN, 37212), The Nashville Food Project (5904 California Ave, Nashville, TN 37209), Monteagle Sunday School Assembly (PO Box 307, Monteagle TN, 37356), or Alive Hospice (1718 Patterson St., Nashville, TN, 37203).

  • Author
  • Recent Posts
LB Cantrell
LB Cantrell
LB Cantrell is Editor/Director of Operations at MusicRow magazine, where she oversees, manages and executes all company operations. LB oversees all MusicRow-related content, including the publication's six annual print issues and online news. LB is a Georgia native and a graduate of the Recording Industry Management program at Middle Tennessee State University.
LB Cantrell
Latest posts by LB Cantrell (see all)
  • Parker McCollum Celebrates Three No. 1 Hits - September 22, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Takes ‘Everything I Love’ To Top Of MusicRow Chart - September 22, 2023
  • CMA Foundation Honors Music Teachers Of Excellence - September 21, 2023
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Kirke-Martin-FB.jpg 525 1000 LB Cantrell https://musicrow.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/MusicRow-header-logo-Mar19B.png LB Cantrell2020-12-18 14:50:482021-01-03 13:22:00Long-Time Business Manager Kirke Martin Passes

RECENT NEWS

  • Parker McCollum Celebrates Three No. 1 Hits September 22, 2023
  • Frank Ray Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month With New Spanish EP September 22, 2023
  • Cody Johnson Announces Third Studio Album ‘Leather’ September 22, 2023
  • Dalton Dover Delivers New Project, ‘Never Giving Up On That’ September 22, 2023
  • Kane Brown Releases Phil Collins-Inspired Track ‘I Can Feel It’ September 22, 2023
  • Widely Admired Bass Player Dave Roe Passes September 22, 2023
  • Zach Bryan Releases Five-Track ‘Boys Of Faith’ EP September 22, 2023
  • Dustin Lynch To Kick Off His ‘Killed The Cowboy Tour’ In April September 22, 2023
  • Bill Anderson Named First Recipient Of Dr. David Godbold Lifetime Achievement Award September 22, 2023
  • Morgan Wallen Takes ‘Everything I Love’ To Top Of MusicRow Chart September 22, 2023
  • Megan Moroney Drops Deluxe Edition Of Debut Album ‘Lucky’ September 22, 2023
  • Oliver Anthony Signs With UTA September 22, 2023
  • DISClaimer Single Reviews: ‘A Lot To Fall In Love With’ This Americana Week September 21, 2023
  • CMA Foundation Honors Music Teachers Of Excellence September 21, 2023
  • Industry Ink: Stephen Wilson Jr., Anne Wilson, BMI, ACM September 21, 2023

Like Us on Facebook

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by MusicRow
© 2023 Music Row Enterprises, LLC – All rights reserved.
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
Scroll to top