Donald J. Martin

MARTIN, Donald J., age 95, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2009. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Ann Martin, 5 brothers, and 5 sisters. Donald is survived by his present wife, Margaret Martin; brothers, Lon Martin of West Carrollton, OH, and Dick Martin of Ft. Recovery, OH; sister, LaRue Peacock of CO, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews. Donald retired from Precision Rubber Products, was a WWII U.S. Army veteran, and a member of A.F. of M., the American Federation of Music, and the Fretted Instrument Guild of America. When a gifted musician dies, the silence that follows recalls the sounds are no more. Don Martin spent his life mastering the fretboards of stringed instruments, a difficult learning curve that few fully surmount. He enjoyed a long professional career playing on radio and in a countless variety of live venues. His trio was in demand at country clubs and private parties as long as live music of the pre-rock era was in vogue. He loved the harmonics of complex chords and left many memories of duets with Dave Greer at conventions and concerts where they could create eight-note chords with the four strings of his plectrum banjo and the four strings of Dave's tenor banjo. He taught the art of guitar and banjo playing at Hauer's Music Store for 28 years and imparted to a host of local musicians secrets of technical skill and musical structure. The song is over, but the melody lingers on. A graveside memorial service will be privately held by the family at Calvary Cemetery, Dayton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Dayton.