Jake Owen Gives Big Boost to Arizona’s Tony Martinez
Whenever the name of country star Jake Owen comes up, it’s quickly proceeded by stories from fans talking about how down-to-earth Jake is for an artist of his stature. From many accounts, Jake Owen goes the extra mile: hanging out with tailgaters before and after shows, taking groups of fans out to unexpectedly on lake trips, and performing other similar gestures that show he doesn’t see himself as better than anyone else.
Last year when country artists began to speak out about the direction of country like never before, Jake Owen became one of the most vocal, taking a couple of occasions to say that country music needed to get back to more substance. In October of 2013, Jake Owen said in part, “We need more songs than just songs about tailgates and fuckin’ cups and Bacardi and stuff like that. We need songs that get ourselves back to the format that made me love it . . .” Then in December of 2013, Jake Owen doubled down on his critical comments, saying,
I don’t mean to sound negative. I love country music right now, it’s awesome. But I’m guilty of it, too. We all have songs that we’re tending to put out because they’re working and it’s helping our careers. But songs like ‘The Thunder Rolls’ or John Michael Montgomery’s ‘Life’s a Dance,’ they were songs that meant something to people. You don’t hear a lot of those songs anymore”¦.People were like, that’s real. There are so many songs now, and I have them, too, that are [about] sunshine, blue eyes, a tan. That’s not always real to everyone all the time. Or passing moonshine jars around. People do that when they’re kids, but people also grow up. . . . It’s important to have all kinds of songs.
Well apparently Jake Owen isn’t just a man of talk, he’s a man of action, and one virtually unknown country artist from Arizona is set to be the beneficiary of Owen’s good nature, and desire to see more substance in the format.
Tony Martinez is a well-seasoned traditional country artist and touring sideman for multiple projects, and by a strange twist of fate, will be filling the time between acts on Jake Owen’s Days of Gold arena tour starting May 15th in Huntington, West Virginia, going until at least late August.
It all started in Arizona at The Phoenix Open golf tournament in Scottsdale the last week of January. Tony was playing a party leading up to the event when Jake Owen saw him.

“Tuesday night there was the draw party for the Pro Am I got to play in,” Jake Owen explains. “So there I was, waiting to find out who we were going to play with, and this guy’s playing a guitar and singing over in the corner of the room you know, and I’m just mesmerized by how badass this guy is. I don’t know him from Adam. I’ve never met him in my life. But I had to go up to him after—I think we ended up getting hammered as hell that night by the way—and I said, ‘Dude, it’s going to be packed at The Bird’s Nest when I play there.’ And I said, ‘I want you to come out on stage with me and sing some badass old school country songs with me for a little bit if that’s okay.'”
So Jake invited Tony Martinez out on stage in front of the 15,000-person capacity crowd at The Bird’s Nest, and the two men proceeded to play the classic country songs “Amos Moses” by Jerry Reed, and Waylon Jennings’ “Luckenbach, TX” while the crowd roared (see below).
After Tony Martinez went over so well, Jake decided to recruit Tony to play between sets while the respective bands on the Days of Gold tour change over. Eli Young Band, and The Cadillac Three also are playing on the current lineup of the Days of Gold tour.
Tony Martinez started out playing as part of the vibrant independent country scene that exists in Phoenix, AZ. The weekly Valley Fever events at the Yucca Tap Room every Sunday night hosted by Dana Armstrong have become a staple of the Phoenix country music scene, and along with Tony Martinez, have also been a proving ground for Ray Lawrence Jr. who landed on a Hank Williams III record a while back, Robert Perez and Junction 10, and many other excellent country artists.
“I met him about 7 years ago when he came to the Yucca with Chip Hanna to play at Valley Fever,” says Valley Fever’s Dana Armstrong “We were all blown away by his raw talent. Since then, he just got better and better and quickly rose to the top of the Arizona country music scene. Not only is he a phenomenal musician and singer, he is also a natural performer. He’s born to be on stage. No matter what he’s playing, he makes it seem effortless, but heartfelt. Never a dull moment when Tony’s on stage.”
Martinez just finished multiple dates playing pedal steel guitar for J.P. Harris & the Tough Choices on the road, and after a recent move to Nashville, has been playing regularly at Layla’s Bluegrass Inn and the Full Moon Saloon on Lower Broadway.
“I was really excited when Jake came to me with the idea of going on his first headlining arena tour,” says Tony Martinez. “It gives me an opportunity to not only play my own songs in front of thousands of people that wouldn’t normally hear them, but also to expose a whole new crowd of people to the kind of music that has fallen by the wayside to the mainstream market. I think that making headway within that demographic is an important step in shifting the mainstream culture. Jake opened the door for me to try and do that. Hopefully I can make some kind of difference.”
May 9, 2014 @ 9:21 am
Big Like from me, he can pick pretty good as well. Nice story and a great gesture from Jake Owen.
May 9, 2014 @ 9:22 am
I saw this guy a few weeks ago at the Full Moon Saloon and he blew my mind. Almost in the same way Sturgill Simpson did when I saw him about three years ago. His bassit said he was going out on the road with Jake Owen, but I assumed he’d be playing guitar or something for him. This guy is the real deal, and was super nice too. Good to see good things happen to good folks.
May 9, 2014 @ 10:06 am
Love it! Fantastic article, and well deserved recognition for Tony. If anyone should be playing in front of arenas of people, it’s him.
May 9, 2014 @ 10:22 am
Thanks Jake! Because of this situation I now can check out someone new! And someone who is clearly… badass and sings DAMN good. This is the kind of story I love. love, LOVE to read in social media. Everyone wins.
May 9, 2014 @ 10:53 am
Yeah, my boss did a 3 date leg of a Jake Owen tour this winter and came back just raving about how cool Jake was. Not at all surprised to see an article of this nature revolving around Jake Owen. One of the best concert moments I can recall is working a Jake Owen show and getting to hear him play “Heaven” from his 3rd album, live. Just awesome.
For the record, while “Days of Gold” certainly isn’t a traditional country album, I was blown away by the way Jake just left all the tropes in his past. I don’t think the word “country” is in any of the lyrics, anywhere, and the title track is the only one I know of that mentions trucks.. It’s a really cool album that just ignored the whole genre tag ideal. It’s just a collection of great songs that he picked out, with only a handful of duds along the way.
May 9, 2014 @ 4:14 pm
I agree that Jake seems to at least be trying to buck this pathetic trend in mainstream country right now but I just wished they wouldn’t have gone with the God awful ‘Beachin’ as a single over the far superior ‘Ghost Town.’
May 10, 2014 @ 4:31 pm
Yeah, man–Beachin’ is definitely one of the album’s duds, along with the song titled with a year number and “Tall Glass of Something” where Jake sounds like Jon Davis from Korn during the chorus.
May 9, 2014 @ 10:55 am
Great article! Had the pleasure of having Tony play pedal steel on our record back in 2010. A good friend and one hell of a musician. Go get ’em!!!
May 9, 2014 @ 10:56 am
Thank you Jake Owen for giving a deserving artist a spotlight. I’m glad Owen can admit his songs and other country songs on the radio aren’t quality either. I have newfound respect for Jake Owen now. And good luck to Mr. Martinez!
May 9, 2014 @ 10:58 am
Things like are why, while I may not be a fan of his music. Jake Owen is ok in my book
May 9, 2014 @ 1:01 pm
A few years back, Tony sat in all summer with my band [Honkie Tonk Heroes], while he was doing shows in Cody WY. He played the most badass rockin Pedal Steel. He will tell you it’s not his primary instrument. You could never tell. I have been performing all of my adult life, and have done some serious touring. He is a great player and fun to hang with…..
May 9, 2014 @ 2:45 pm
Cant wait to hear Tony join in on Beachin! Haha jk.
May 9, 2014 @ 4:20 pm
Totally off topic but I’m not sure where else to post this but today is the 25th anniversary of the death of Keith Whitley.
‘I’m No Stranger To The Rain’
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yQj2huYyqpc
An absolute great gone too soon
May 9, 2014 @ 6:18 pm
I don’t doubt Jake Owen is a legitimately generous-hearted and affable person. I have indeed kept tabs on how further out of his way he goes to give back to his fans and that reveals true character.
…………….now if he can only exert much more effort in at least trying to pen songs like “The Thunder Rolls” and “Life’s A Dance”. As it stands, he is still “Beachin'” to the choir! -__-
May 9, 2014 @ 7:30 pm
Props to Jake Owen for taking a step in the right direction. I appreciated the comment from the fan at about 8:17: “Now this is real country!”
I still believe that badass, real country can still rock people’s souls and dominate the airwaves (whatever that means these days) if it is done well, done from the heart, and have some decent promotion behind it. I am willing the bet that Luckenbach, TX was the highlight of many of those fans’ night.
May 10, 2014 @ 4:23 pm
Haha. That was me yelling, “Finally some real country!” I was also responsible for the not so great camerawork.
May 9, 2014 @ 9:38 pm
Have seen Tony at the galloping goose in Coolidge az and I couldn’t get over how someone so awesome was playing such a small bar, but then again Waylon started at the same bar many years ago good luck Tony
May 10, 2014 @ 5:21 am
Congratulations to Tony. Very talented.
May 10, 2014 @ 10:43 am
It’s too bad this guy is just an average singer. I read the article expecting to be really impressed, but he’s just average, you know, not bad. And I’m glad that Jake’s a nice guy, but that don’t change a dadgum thing about his music, or his fabricated drawl.
May 10, 2014 @ 12:32 pm
Hey Clint, are you a singer? Are you a musician? Do you know me? I have an idea! If you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say it at all. Ever hear of that one?Nobody cares for your negative criticism. Besides, nobody asked you.
May 10, 2014 @ 1:05 pm
Nobody asked me? It’s a message board where Country Music fans can give their opinion on whatever Trig is talking about. You can’t win ’em all man. Don’t be sad though; there’s probably lots of people who think you’re a good singer. I’m just not one of them. Like I said: you’re not bad. I do appreciate that you’re trying to keep it Country though, and you seem to be a talented guitar player.
May 10, 2014 @ 7:54 pm
Alright, this guy’s out there busting his ass trying to make a living singing songs, he catches a break and you’re gonna criticize his voice? I think Tony’s got a great country voice, and if you think “poor” singers can’t sing a good country song, go listen to some Ernest Tubb. Hell even Johnny Cash wasn’t a technically good singer. Keep up the good stuff Tony!
May 20, 2014 @ 5:16 pm
Wow Clint, you are by far the most ignorant person I have ever heard! You clearly lack a ear for real country and raw natural talent. I’ve come from a family of phenomin
Musicians and have been raised around it my entire life and Tony Martinex is by FAR the most talented person I have EVER had the privledge of hearing live! I lové to read comments coming from such stupid ppl
As yourself it makes me laugh so hard and fe very bad for ur stupidity buddy! You won’t get far in life that’s for sure! Thanks for the laugh!!
May 10, 2014 @ 1:13 pm
Hey Clint,
Do I detect a bit of jealousy on your part regarding Jake’s selection of Tony for this gig? Why don’t you get up on a stage and cut heads with TM and then go lick your wounds?
The Rebel
May 10, 2014 @ 1:44 pm
Jealousy? I’m just a Country Music fan giving my opinion. What are you rebelling against?
May 10, 2014 @ 1:54 pm
Alright folks, before this gets out of hand….
I personally love Tony’s voice and think it is one of his greatest assets as a performer, but everyone is entitled to an opinion, and you can’t argue taste. I wish Clint would approach the sharing of his opinions with a little more tact (and this has happened before), but let’s understand everyone isn’t going to like everything, and try to use our disagreements about music to bridge understanding instead of a flashpoint for an argument since we’re all country fans here.
May 10, 2014 @ 2:04 pm
What am I “rebelling” against? You have turned on the local “Country” radio station lately haven’t you? I’m glad you are a Country Music Fan. I fancy myself one also. The state of Modern Country radio is what I am “rebelling” against. Tony Martinez is a talented young singer/songwriter that appreciates the roots of traditional Country Music, not the MTV/CMT/Clear Channel/Jamey Johnson version of CW Music. We can agree to disagree however I’m sure, if you are a fan of modern country radio. Also, my drawl is not fabricated..
The Rebel
May 10, 2014 @ 2:26 pm
Thatdamnrebel,
Like I said: I’m glad Tony is singing Country Music. I’m just not impressed by his singing. But hey, there’s a lot of artists that nearly everyone on this site raves about that don’t impress me with their singing. Take Sturgill Simpson for example; to me, he just sounds like a cheap Waylon Jennings impersonator. I could go on and on with a list of names, but I’m getting off topic.
Also, I quit listening to Country radio around 1997. For me, it started really going downhill in the mid 90’s. I’m of the opinion that Country music in the mainstream is dead, and never coming back. I also feel like Traditional fans are so eager to cling to anything that isn’t full blown Pop trash, that they are willing to accept less talented singers.
May 10, 2014 @ 2:50 pm
Sounds good Clint. Keep the faith. There is a lot of great, young talent out there and it needs to be nurtured, not ridiculed. That was my main objection to your comment. I don’t think the Country Music I love was ever mainstream. The Hollywood Machine just saw the money potential after “The Urban Cowboy” movie in the late 70’s, and that and the advent of the music video generation has brought about what is happening today in Nashville. Buddy Holly could not hit in Nashville when he was alive and at his peak and Hank Williams would be laughed out of town nowadays for being the hick that he was. Like Trigger said, we are all Country Music fans here. We can’t let the “media” define our music.
The Rebel
May 10, 2014 @ 1:53 pm
And by the way, if I was a jealous musician, I dang sure wouldn’t be seeking the approval of Jake Owen. I turn my nose up at, and laugh at “Country” singers like him. Jake Owen would have to pay me a pretty penny just to sit through one of his shows.
May 10, 2014 @ 1:57 pm
And maybe that’s the reason Tony’s opportunity is an opportunity for all real country music, because he’ll be sharing it with a crowd that traditionally is never exposed to it. That’s why Jesus broke his bread with the sinners …. or something like that. Nobody is telling you that you have to like Jake Owen.
May 10, 2014 @ 2:00 pm
Ok Trigger, please tell me how I lack tact. Educate me. You’re the guy who goes on cussin’ fits on a weekly basis(which I enjoy), and I’m the one who lacks tact?
May 10, 2014 @ 2:47 pm
Mmmmmm…. Clint *does* bring up a good point, Trigger. You seemed to have said some pretty un-tactful things in the Jerrod Niemann piece.
Let us review:
“Donkey” is an uprovocated ass raping of the ears, and if any Niemannites come here preaching to me the virtues of this song because “country music must evolve,” I will personally take a pair of donkey balls and use them to tea bag each and every one of their bedroom pillows when they”™re not looking. “Donkey” isn”™t just bad, it defines the catastrophic trainwrecking of the entire human evolutionary timeline. 800,000 years of homo sapien progress brought to a screeching halt because one pudgy douchebag wants an arena-sized “country” career before his pubes turn gray. “Donkey” is a harbinger for a dark age for arts, entertainment, and intelligence that humankind is on the precipice of plummeting headlong into.”
Double-edged sword, eh? I shudder to think how Tony would’ve reacted to someone saying THAT about him… What Clint said was a love-tap compared to this.
May 10, 2014 @ 3:12 pm
That’s because Jerrod Niemann isn’t a country artist, he’s an EDM sellout hack douchewad disguised as a country artist who deserves to be called out in the most adolescent and untactful way possible. What I told Clint is we’re all country fans here, and it’s not worth arguing over an artist like Tony Martinez, that I would hope we could all agree is much better than someone like Jerrod Niemann. If he doesn’t like Tony’s voice, so be it. I’m not going to argue that point with him because it’s an opinion on taste, and I want everyone to have the right, including Clint, to express their opinions freely. I respect that opinion, but it doesn’t mean I have to agree with it.
Clint has a very rigid opinion of what country is, and I have no problem with that. I just wish when giving that opinion, he showed a little more tact in how he talks about artists that generally speaking, are unquestionably more on the side of the good guys than the bad guys. That’s just a wish, not a demand.
Let’s be done with this thread, please.
May 10, 2014 @ 4:34 pm
My reply to Clint would be “some of my favorite artists have some of my least favorite voices.”
I mean, you’ve all heard Chris Knight.
May 10, 2014 @ 4:35 pm
Being from Florida, I’ve been following Jake Owen for a while. It’s easy to write him off as being a product of the current country machine but the guy has a pretty large repertoire of classic country songs on command that he plays on his stageit performances – which are pretty cool of him to do. His voice sounds best on the more traditional stuff anyway. Shame we don’t hear more of it given what the radio is rewarding these days.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-sFnWYKQPM
May 12, 2014 @ 4:05 pm
I detest what I’ve heard of Jake Owens music, which isn’t very much. A couple years ago I took a job that moved me to his hometown. Spent a tiny bit of time around him & a good bit around people who’ve known him a while. I think he’s a genuinely nice guy, relatively humble too. He wants mainstream country music to change, he just doesn’t feel empowered to be the main catalyst of that change, or at least that’s my impression. Maybe he’s right. Bringing some actual decent country acts on a headlining building tour could be a huge help. I’m no fan of the Eli Young Band, but I am a fan of Mr Martinez & I hope this gives his career a huge boost.
May 13, 2014 @ 11:21 pm
Not really a Jake Owen music fan but last year he played at my hometown “Creekfest” weekend and from all accounts sounds like he’s a pretty chill guy. I live in a town of 5000 so we’re not exactly accustomed to celebrities but he went around to a bunch of local businesses just to kind of say Hi and BS. He also went around the campgrounds and hung out with people before the concert and after and heard nothing but good things. I don’t care for his music but he seems like a good guy and I’ll admit he seemed pretty entertaining to me in my inebriated state so I hope he continues to do what he preaches would not be mad at all to see him come back especially since the headliner is Florida Georgia Line this year( I know fuck me right but when you live in a small town I feel obligated to go to support it I’ll probably just get blackout drunk before hand).