Martin Zellar
Encyclopedia
Martin Zellar born June 14, 1963, is the lead singer, main songwriter
, and guitarist
for the country-tinged rock
band the Gear Daddies
from Austin, Minnesota
. After the band broke up in 1992, Zellar went on to form Martin Zellar and The Hardways (with Nick Ciola
, Adam Levy, Noah Levy, and Jon Duncan as the first line-up, Nick Ciola, Dan Neale, Marc Retish as a later line up). After a stint in Austin, Texas
, he moved his family back to his home town of Austin
, Minnesota
. In addition to continuing to gig and recording new songs, he became head of the Mower County
Minnesota DFL
. He helped Democrat
Jeanne Poppe wage a difficult campaign against a Republican
incumbent Jeff Anderson. Poppe won and now represents Austin in the Minnesota Legislature.
In 2006, Zellar and his family moved to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico, where their
third child, a daughter, was born.
In February 2007, "I Wanna Drive the Zamboni (Zamboni Song)" was released as a single. The popular song was originally a hidden track on the Gear Daddies album "Billy's Live Bait
".
Martin Zellar continues to play an active schedule of gigs with the Gear Daddies, with the Hardways, his Neil! tribute band, and solo acoustic, and is
working on a new album, due to be released in early 2012.
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, and guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
for the country-tinged rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band the Gear Daddies
Gear Daddies
The Gear Daddies are a band from Austin, Minnesota that enjoyed moderate success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Its members were Randy Broughten , Nick Ciola , Billy Dankert , and Martin Zellar...
from Austin, Minnesota
Austin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
. After the band broke up in 1992, Zellar went on to form Martin Zellar and The Hardways (with Nick Ciola
Nick Ciola
Nick Ciola is the former bass guitarist for the Gear Daddies and the current bassist for Martin Zellar and The Hardways. He was born and raised in Austin, Minnesota.- References :...
, Adam Levy, Noah Levy, and Jon Duncan as the first line-up, Nick Ciola, Dan Neale, Marc Retish as a later line up). After a stint in Austin, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, he moved his family back to his home town of Austin
Austin, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,314 people, 9,897 households, and 6,076 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,168.2 people per square mile . There were 10,261 housing units at an average density of 954.3 per square mile...
, Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
. In addition to continuing to gig and recording new songs, he became head of the Mower County
Mower County, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,603 people, 15,582 households, and 10,315 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 16,251 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
Minnesota DFL
Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
The Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party is a major political party in the state of Minnesota and the state affiliate of the Democratic Party. It was created on April 15, 1944, with the merger of the Minnesota Democratic Party and the Farmer–Labor Party...
. He helped Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Jeanne Poppe wage a difficult campaign against a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
incumbent Jeff Anderson. Poppe won and now represents Austin in the Minnesota Legislature.
In 2006, Zellar and his family moved to San Miguel de Allende in central Mexico, where their
third child, a daughter, was born.
In February 2007, "I Wanna Drive the Zamboni (Zamboni Song)" was released as a single. The popular song was originally a hidden track on the Gear Daddies album "Billy's Live Bait
Billy's Live Bait
Billy's Live Bait was the second album recorded by Austin, Minnesota band the Gear Daddies. It was their first release for a major label.-Track listing:#"Stupid Boy"#"Sonic Boom"#"Wear Your Crown"#"Don't Look at Me"#"Time Heals"#"Gonna Change"...
".
Martin Zellar continues to play an active schedule of gigs with the Gear Daddies, with the Hardways, his Neil! tribute band, and solo acoustic, and is
working on a new album, due to be released in early 2012.
Studio albums
- "Born Under" (Rykodisc), 1994
- "Martin Zellar and the Hardways" (Rykodisc), 1996
- "The Many Moods of Martin Zellar and the Hardways" (Owen Lee Recordings), 1998
- "Scattered" (Owen Lee Recordings), 2002
- "They Even Use The Hooves" (Owen Lee Recordings), 2003 B Sides And Other Rarities
Live albums
- "Two Guitars Bass & Drums" (Owen Lee Recordings), 2000
- "Live From the Mercury Lounge" (Legal Bootleg), 2003