Marty Gamblin has died
Marty Gamblin has died.
The Philadelphia native began his long career in the music business, booking bands while still in high school. He worked closely with Mississippi songwriter/performer Jim Weatherly, ran Glen Campbell’s publishing firm, and helped launch Alan Jackson’s career. He was 80.
Gamblin has had a significant career in the entertainment industry, spanning nearly 40 years in Los Angeles and Nashville.
As a manager, he represented numerous other artists, including Bryan White, Dorothy Moore, Ruby Lovette, and Pearl River. He served as Glen Campbell's publishing and management company president for over two decades, according to his LinkedIn profile.
In his role as a publisher, GC Music was recognized as one of Billboard's top 10 publishers and achieved 16 number one singles. Notable songs include ASCAP's Song of the Year for "Don't Rock the Jukebox" and "Chattahoochee." His writers have been recorded by legendary artists such as The Temptations, Ray Charles, Reba McEntire, Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, Vince Gill, LeAnn Rimes, Kenny Rogers, Cher, Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt, Gladys Knight, Fleetwood Mac, and Randy Travis.
Gamblin managed writers from GC Music like Carl Jackson, Michael Smotherman, and Derek George. He also worked with catalogs of Hall of Fame songwriters such as Gene Autry, Jimmy Webb, Jerry Fuller, Clyde Otis, and Jim Weatherly—who penned classics like "Midnight Train to Georgia," "Wichita Lineman," "Travelin' Man," "It's Just a Matter of Time," "Here Comes Santa Claus," and "Highwaymen."
From 1988 to 2003, Gamblin was a member of the advisory board at Belmont University's Mike Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business in Nashville and served as a guest lecturer at Middle Tennessee State University's Department of Recording Industry. He has been a member of the Country Music Association since 1983 and was inducted into the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame in 2006.
He was the founding executive director of the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Center (The MAX) and transitioned to a consultant role for The MAX Hall of Fame/Walk of Fame in 2019. Additionally, he became a consultant for Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music in December 2019.
Gamblin lived in Philadelphia with his wife, Cherie. Their son Josh and his family live in San Juan, Puerto Rico, while their son Caleb is based in Nashville.
This story will be updated.