Martie Maguire

Martie adopted the surname Seidel after she got married to Ted Seidel, a pharmaceutical executive in 1995 on 17th June. Through her marriage she became the stepmother of Carter—Seidel’s son from his previous marriage. However, after enjoying four years of nuptial bliss, the couple split up in 1999.

Following her divorce, she started dating Gareth Maguire, an actor and instructor in a Roman Catholic school, hailing from Northern Ireland. Gareth and Martie got married in 2001 on 10th August, following their betrothal in June of that year. The couple has three daughters, Eva Ruth, Kathleen Emilie, and Harper, all conceived via IVF. The couple divorced in 2013.

Martie Maguire was born on 12th October 1969 as Martha Elenor Erwin in York City, Pennsylvania to Paul Erwin and Barbara Trask. She spent her early years in Addison, a suburban town in Dallas County, Texas. She has two sisters, one elder than her and another younger to her.

When Martie’s parents, both of whom were employed as instructors in private schools, observed her instinctive penchant for music, they inspired her to pursue her passion. She started taking lessons in classical violin when she was just five and by the time she was 12, began experimenting with ‘fiddling’ different stringed instruments.

As a prominent member of her school’s orchestra, she fiddled with the mandolin, violin, acoustic guitar, double bass, and viola. Emily, her younger sister, was equally passionate about music, demonstrating her innate flair as a kid. Both the sisters jointly nurtured and honed their instrumental and vocal skills.

Over the years, Maguire mastered the ‘fiddling style’ as well as became remarkably adept as a backing vocalist. At the peak of her career, she exclusively focused on composing songs and arranging the musical score for the same during studio recordings and live concerts, using stringed instruments.

In 1983 Martie, as a 14-year-old teen, took to ‘busking’ or performing on the streets together with Emily and her schoolmates, Sharon and Troy Gilchrist. The foursome also attended numerous bluegrass concerts and festivals, and eventually they teamed up to form ‘Blue Night Express’, a teenage bluegrass band.

Martie, as a founding member of ‘Blue Nigh Express,’ performed with the band from 1984 till 1989; five years in total. While she was studying in Greenhill School along with Emily, she participated in the ‘National Fiddle Championship’ organized annually in Winfield, Kansas and stood 2nd in 1987.

She cleared high school in 1988 and went to Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, attending courses for just one year. She was also an active member of the university’s orchestra. During her time at the academy, she again took part in national level fiddle competition in 1988, wresting the 3rd spot.

It was in 1989 that Martie Maguire and Emily teamed with double bassist, Laura Lynch and singer-cum-guitarist Robin Lynn Macy to create an all-women’s country music and bluegrass band, ‘Dixie Chicks’.

Martie concentrated on playing the viola, mandolin and the fiddle. Emily Strayer contributed as a vocalist and was often supported by Martie who also performed as a backing singer, besides excelling on the stringed instruments.

Dixie Chicks’ debut album, ‘Thank Heavens for Dale Evans,’ recorded and produced independently, was released in December 1990. The title for the bluegrass band’s debut record was inspired by Dale Evans, a multifaceted performer. Martie contributed to the first album by writing and recording a number of tracks.

The band’s sophomore album, ‘Little Ol’ Cowgirl,’ that was up for sale in 1992, comprised of tracks that eschewed bluegrass and were more representative of contemporary country. Maguire went on record by commenting that drums were heavily used in all the tracks.

Robin Lynn Macy did not appreciate this sudden development and walked out of the group to focus on a career devoted solely to bluegrass. She was replaced by Natalie Maines, an accomplished singer and guitarist. Dixie Chicks came out with their major label debut studio album, ‘Wide Open Spaces’ in 1998 endorsed by Sony Music.