[1] Martin played trumpet as a child with June Clark and Sonny Greer.

From 1932 to 1936 Martin played abroad with Willie Lewis, and formed his own band after returning home in 1937.

His quartet held an extended gig at the Palace in Greenwich Village; the other players were pianist Richard Edwards, drummer Ural Dean, and guitarist Samuel Steede.

This era of Martin's life is poorly documented, however, because during a tour of The Netherlands at the Mephisto Club in Rotterdam, his entire book of arrangements was burned in a club fire.

Martin continued to tour Europe into the 1940s, then held residencies in New York City and New Jersey.