• General Notes

  [marlow.FTW]
  
  [Brøderbund WFT Vol. 3, Ed. 1, Tree #6300, Date of Import: Sep 11, 1998]
  
  William Edward Martin was born in Bancroft, Michigan. on the 27th day of April, 1902 to Edward and Ruth Martin; From the time of his birth, however, he always went by the name of "Jimmy".
  As a youngster, Jimmy was described by relatives and other members of the community as being somewhat of a precocious child, always into some kind of mischief or another. School also held little appeal for Jimmy, except during music training. Jimmy apparently always had a special talent for with regards to music and by the age of seven could play numerous songs from memory on the piano. Family members remember how when Jimmy was only nine, he began composing some of his own music. He would entertain the people of the community on frequent occasions with his gift of musical ability. Jimmy was known to play several different instruments, although his expertise was with guitar and piano.
  Jimmy completed school and moved to Detroit where he began teaching music to children and young adults. During this time, he met and courted Rose Lopus. They were married the 29th of August 1936 and gave birth to their only child, James, on September 14th, 1937.
  Jimmy hosted his own Jazz radio show in Detroit in the 1930's and when he wasn't working there he frequented the Metamora Hunt Club, of which he was a member for almost six years.
  Jimmy and Rose began to have marriage difficulties and separated in 1939.
  Rose became a store owner and Jimmy went on the road to make a name for himself. Jimmy did well, and eventually became one of the head composers for Paul Whiteman and his band.  He gained some notability and popularity but this was to be his downfall as well.
  According to several family members and friends, Jimmy befriended a woman by the name of Sophie Tucker, the last of the red-hot mamas with known connections to the Mob. He became acquainted with her daughter, against Sophie's wishes, and after one of his late night performances, was found in the alley with a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
  

Details of William Edward's family with Rose Rosalee Lopusnak