After an 11-year stint as an air force pilot and work as a disc jockey in Boise, Idaho, Lecil Martin belatedly launched a singing career in 1975 under the name of Boxcar Willie. In 1982, at the age of 51, he finally found success on the US country charts via a revival of Johnny Cash’s "Bad News." Among his subsequent hits were versions of country classics such as "Wabash Cannonball," "Wreck of the Old 97," "Kaw-Liga," and a duet of "We Made Memories" with Penny DeHaven. While his star quickly faded in the U.S., Boxcar retained his vast popularity in Europe. He died of leukemia in April 1999.