If you ask singer-songwriter Martin Zellar what he's most proud of over his long career, he answers, "I guess that I've managed to support my family by writing, recording, and performing music for over 35 years. It hasn't always been easy or glamorous, but I've found a way. I still love what I do and can't imagine doing anything else. And honestly, the fact that I'm not qualified to do anything else has been a motivator". The truth is, Martin Zellar has made his living as a singer-songwriter for over 35 years because he has always reliably delivered what his fans have come to expect from him: quality songwriting and heartfelt performances.
Martin Zellar first appeared on the fertile mid-80s Minneapolis music scene as the lead singer and songwriter of the alt-country pioneering Gear Daddies. In 1986, the Gear Daddies signed with Gark Records, a small Minneapolis independent label, and released a 45rpm record (She's Happy b/w 2-18) and a full-length LP, Let's Go Scare Al. In 1998, they jumped to Polygram Records, the biggest label in the world at that time.