Sept. 26: Marty Robbins, who sang "El Paso" was born on this day in 1925...

... he died on December 8, 1982 from complications following heart surgery.

Born Martin David Robinson in Glendale, Arizona, Marty was one of the most popular and successful country and Western singers of his era, for most of his nearly four-decade career, Robbins was rarely far from the country music charts, and several of his songs also became pop hits.

While in the Navy, Robbins learned to play the guitar, started writing songs, and came to love Hawaiian music. After his dischargein 1945, he began to play at local venues in Phoenix, then moved on to host his own show on KTYL. He thereafter had his own television show on KPHO-TV in Phoenix. After Little Jimmy Dickens made a guest appearance on Robbins' TV show, Dickens got Robbins a record deal with Columbia Records. Robbins became known for his appearances at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee.

Robbins's 1957 recording of "A White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation" sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.

Press links below to view You Tube video performances:

-- "Devil Woman"

-- "El Paso"

-- "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife"

Robbins won a Grammy Award for his 1959 hit and signature song "El Paso" from his album "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs." "El Paso" was the first song to hit #1 on the pop chart in the 1960s. It was followed up,  by "Don't Worry," which reached #3 on the pop chart in 1961, becoming his third, and last, Top 10 hit. "El Paso" was followed by two sequels: "Feleena" and "El Paso City", both of which continued the story featured in the original song.

He won the Grammy Award for the Best Country & Western Recording 1961, for his follow-up album "More Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs," and was awarded the Grammy Award for Best Country Song in 1970, for "My Woman, My Woman, My Wife." Robbins was named Artist of the Decade (1960–69) by the Academy of Country Music, was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982, and was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1998 for his song "El Paso."

Robbins was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1975.