‘Catch of the Day’ – Martina McBride – “Reckless” [AUDIO]

When today's featured artist made her breakthrough in Nashville, she was called a "neo-traditionalist" for her blending of pop and country, giving her a unique sound that allowed to sing everything from modern country to classic country to standards. A style that has allowed her to survive and flourish in Nashville for almost 25 years, taking on another one word title..."icon".

Country music came early to Martina McBride. Growing up in Sharon, KS, Martina was exposed to some of the greatest female country singers early in life, listening to artists like Linda Ronstadt, Reba McEntire and Patsy Cline in her father's workshop. Her father, John Schiff, was a cabinet maker who was also a musician in his free time. Martina began singing with his bad, The Schiffters, when she was 8 years old. As she grew older, and more confident, her role with the band grew from a part-time singer, to full time lead singer to eventually added keyboardist to her resume.

As Martina outgrew The Schiffters, she signed on with a Wichita rock band called The Penetrators. Her time with the band was short lived, and in 1987 she put together her own group called Lotus, and as she was looking for space for the band to practice, she met local producer John McBride. She would rent rehearsal space from McBride, but more importantly, a relationship would bloom and the pair would marry in 1988.

After marrying, the McBrides would move to Nashville in 1989, hoping to launch Martina's career as a singer and John's as an engineer and producer. In 1991, John got a job as a sound tech for Garth Brook's road crew, with Martina soon joining him selling merchandise. Brooks was impressed by Martina's hard work and spirit, and offered her a deal; if she could land a recording contract, he would give her the opening spot on his tour. John had begun shopping her demo around Nashville a few month's before, and not too long after Brooks' offer, Martina signed a record contract with RCA Nashville.

John and Martina have raised three children (Delaney, Emma and Ava) and Martina has always put her family above career. Starting with Delaney's birth in 1994, she cut back on her touring schedule so that the kids could have a "normal" upbringing. Former head of RCA Records Joe Galante has said often that McBride made an "enormous choice in terms of money", but that the company always understood that for Martina it was never a "choice" and that she wanted to be present in her children's lives.

McBride spends a lot of her time working a representing a variety of charities. She has been She has served as a spokeswoman for the National Domestic Violence Hotline as well as for the National Network to End Domestic Violence and national spokeswoman for the Tulsa Domestic Violence and Intervention Services, as well as making appearances for countless other charities.

In Martina's "spare time" she has recorded 9 country albums, 2 albums of classics, 2 holiday albums and 4 greatest hits or best of compilations. These have resulted in 7 platinum and 1 gold certifications. From these albums, Martina has had 28 singles hit the top-10, with 5 of those making it all the way to number 1. Not too bad for a "part timer."

Martina has recently left the RCA Nashville label, her home for 23 years. In early 2015 she joined Reba McEntire and Ronnie Dunn as the first signees for the brand new Nash-Icon record label. And as McBride puts the final touches on her first album for the fledgling 3record label, the first single from the project is in our spotlight today. Martina McBride and "Reckless" is today's Catch of the Day, new music you haven't heard, but you'll want to hear it again.