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Martins visit complex
The martins pic
THE MARTINS

An up-and-coming duet with local ties will be debuting their acoustic show at the DeKalb County Community Complex just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The Martins will bring their show to the center for one night only on Feb. 13, at 6:30 p.m., for a Valentine’s show. Admission to the show is $5.00, which includes a ticket to the show, finger foods and tea. The show will last approximately two hours.
The Martins consists of Daniel and Mercedes Martin, residents of Sparta with DeKalb County roots and plenty of musical heritage. Daniel’s great-uncle was legendary fiddler Benny Martin, a member of the Grand Ole Opry who during his esteemed career played with Bill Monroe, Roy Acuff, the Stanley Brothers and Flatt and Scruggs, among many others.
Influenced by his musical lineage, Daniel learned to play guitar by the age of 12, and was playing bass by the age of 18. Still just a teen at the time, Daniel joined three of his musician friends to form the band, “Back Then,” who played venues all around Middle Tennessee.
Mercedes Luna Martin grew up singing at Sligo Marina, managed for many years by her family. She has also performed in many area venues and county fairs, and spent time in the recording studio.
Mercedes’ love for singing has also led her to many talent contests and competitions, including American Idol, which she auditioned for in recent years.
Mercedes’ love of singing and Daniel’s love of playing led to a musical love story when the two met in 2011. Needing a replacement singer for “Back Then,” family connections led Daniel to bring aboard Mercedes, and the love bug quickly struck.
“It was love at first sight,” said Mercedes as she smiled and recalled their first meeting at a band rehearsal.
In October, 2012 the couple turned their whirlwind musical romance into marriage vows when the couple wed in nearby Crossville. Since that point, they’ve spent many nights in their Sparta home writing and performing songs, waiting on the opportunity to pursue their shared musical passion.
“God and music has been the center of our relationship,” said Mercedes of the couples’ bond. “We were actually the first performers to play on the stage at the DeKalb Community Complex, so we couldn’t think of a better place to kick off our musical debut than in front of the people I grew up with.”
It’s their love story that will add an even deeper element to the Valentine’s Day performance at the complex. The couple will perform both original and cover songs, and the music will encompass several genres, from pop to country, some rock, and, of course, duets. The show will kick off a busy year of performances by the young couple as they pursue their musical ambitions.
Tickets for the show are available at the DeKalb County Community Complex, located on South Congress Boulevard in Smithville. Business hours are Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Tickets may be purchased any time during business hours. Doors will open at 6 p.m. the night of the show.
For more information, contact the complex at (615) 597-2121.