He was a “Mad Man” on Madison Avenue as well as a restauranteur, but what Layng Martine Jr. really wanted to be was a songwriter. Toiling away with his pen while making a living to support his family in the mid to late 1960s and early ’70s, Martine placed a few songs and even recorded a handful of his own sides before finding a welcome mentor in eclectic showman Ray Stevens.
In 1974, Layng’s backyard barbecue-inspired tune “Rub It In” earned Billy “Crash” Craddock a #1 spot on the country charts, and earned Layng a reputation as a hitmaker. From there, Martine went on to have songs recorded by Elvis Presley, Tanya Tucker, Don Williams, Jerry Lee Lewis, Reba McEntire, The Pointer Sisters, and many, many more.
At the invitation of his son– famed producer Tucker Martine– Layng, 81, released his debut full-length Music Man in May of 2023. The album is a document of not only four decades of songwriting but of just how far dreams and dedication can take you when you really believe.