"Tell me I don't live a lie, then give up ghost with sickly sigh." - Rick Martin

This page for Rick Martin is eternally under construction.

Rick was born August 13, 1957 and grew up in Midfield, AL - His father was chief of police and his mother a housewife.
He grew up singing in church choirs and playing football, breaking his nose during one of those activities.

In 1980, he transferred from UAB to Toccoa Falls College. He was immediately popular due to his incredibly
friendly personality. He not only worked as a DJ at the college station, but soon was cast in TFC theater in a production of
Arsenic and Old Lace and stole the show when he was on stage.
During this time he formed the band, Insanity, that would guide a lot of his life. At TFC, Insanity played once but
their weird style of odd poetry, set to a piano background, was unliked and their next attempt to play was stopped.

After graduating, Rick moved to Athens, Ga and started working at Showbiz Pizza and fully pursuing music. The band
purchased a 5' 9" grand piano and started recording and performing in local clubs. Rick soon started working at WLOV
in Washington, GA, moving down there for part of a year. Back in Athens he worked at The Uptown Lounge and
also with Rick the Printer at a local press.

In 1988 he married Kim Lathrop and they lived in Watkinsville, GA. Kim gave birth to Kelsey the next year. Rick became manager
of Pizza d' Action in Athens until he purchased U Bake Em Pizza in Lilburn. During this time, Rick and Kim opened
up the Greensboro, GA antique mall.

In 2001, Rick was diagnosed with stage 4 bone and lung cancer. He died 8 months later. In between diagnosis and death, Rick
went through remission but the cancer cell on his brain was unforgiveable.
Before Rick died he was honored as Greensboro Small Business Man of the Year.

His funeral was not only attended by members of R.E.M., but former co-workers from 10 years earlier came
to talk about Rick and his affect on them.

I miss Rick alot.
He wore my electric shirt.

If you have pictures or stories, send them to
neillien@hotmail.com