Grady Martin’s Son Honors Dad at Country Music Hall of Fame Induction

On Sunday (Oct. 25), renowned guitarist Grady Martin was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. His son, Joshua Martin says that although his father passed away in 2001, he is still inspiring him today, both musically and in life.

"Every year, somebody’s showing me something new that he was on, that I had no idea," the proud son, who accepted the honor on his father's behalf, told The Boot and other reporters prior to the induction ceremony. "I really enjoy the rockabilly stuff personally -- Elvis Presley, things like that. I love the things that he did on the Merle Haggard records.

Grady Martin played on some of country music's biggest hits, including Marty Robbins' "El Paso," Loretta Lynn's "Coal Miner's Daughter" and Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," among others.

"He just has such class, and really this finesse. He has such a great touch for the ballads. But he had this really great, fat sound and kind of lively aggression for the rock stuff," Joshua Martin continues. "He really could do it all."

Although Grady Martin was there in spirit only, the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony became a family reunion of sorts for his loved ones.

"The greatest thing about tonight for me is just getting to see all of my family together in one spot. It really got almost everybody out of the house and all together ..." Joshua Martin explained on the red carpet. "Of course, all the folks at the Country Music Hall of Fame and the CMA people -- they’ve been so sweet, and they’ve made it feel really special all year leading up to this. It’s a significant night. It means so much to us."

Lee officially inducted Grady Martin into the Country Music Hall of Fame, offering kind words of tribute to one of her closest friends.

“Grady Martin is in the songs we write and the records we make,” Lee said. “He’s in the air that we breathe here. He’s in the cranes that we see around town, building skyscrapers, because people want to live and work here, and they want to make music here, and he’s a big part of that reason.”

See Photos From the 2015 Country Music Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony