Steve Martin: Appears at concert stage to promote album

Steve Martin: Appears at concert stage to promote album

Singer Steve Martin appeared at Grand Ole Opry performance to promote "The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo." Recorded with famous artists namely Vince Gill and Dolly Parton, the album was released in the month of January as a digital-only collection through Amazon. The physical version was released on 19th May by Rounder and hit No. 1 on Billboard's Top Bluegrass Albums chart. It remains at No. 1 position.

According to Steve Martin, "The Crow" was 45 years in the making, who began playing the banjo as a teenager. He continued, "I fell in love with bluegrass music in the early '60s," he says. In addition to more recently written songs, the album features selections penned in the '60s and '70s, and was produced by Martin's high school buddy and lifelong friend John McEuen, of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.”

Steve Martin, who prominently featured a banjo in his comedy act during the '70s and '80s, later opened for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. McEuen said,  "From the songs he came up with in the '70s to the recent ones, I've always loved his melodies,"  "They're infectious."

The album, which Martin and McEuen refer to as "the most expensive banjo album in the history of the universe," was recorded in Englewood, N.J.; Nashville; Los Angeles; and Dublin. The last location gave the pair the opportunity to work with the Irish singer Mary Black. Jokingly Steve remarked, "It really wasn't a bluegrass budget”.

Martin took the decision of  recording  the 16-song album after a conversation with famous banjo player Tony Trischka, who had asked him to play on his album "Double Banjo Bluegrass Spectacular." Martin said, "I realized I had a dozen songs and a few more I was working on," "I just impetuously booked a studio, got some musicians (and) asked John to produce."

Martin further said,  he was a bit starstruck. Martin said, "To play with remarkable musicians and then have them play my music was a big thrill," "When I was in the studio and heard Vince and Dolly singing my song, I thought about all the great songwriters who never get that shot."

Gill has long been a fan of Martin's musical talent. Gill added , "A lot of people assumed his banjo was a prop, but I knew it wasn't because I'd heard him play," "I knew he had a musician's heart."

Martin, who recently performed on the "American Idol" season finale and "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," has also appeared on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" for promoting the album. A concert that was held on May 11 at Club Nokia in L.A. was followed by 3 sold-out shows on May 27-28 at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York.

Steve Martin remarked, "I'm experienced playing in my living room, but I'm not experienced playing live in front of people," "especially a dozen songs. I've been doing shows to get more comfortable."