Lone Star Laughs
Sporting a cowboy hat, creased blue jeans, a shiny belt buckle, and a confident strut, comedian William Lee Martin is a presence. He commands the stage, telling stories like a goofy friend who just wants to make you laugh after a long day.
Growing up in Blue Mound, Martin started writing at age 5—not jokes, but songs and stories. After attending the University of Texas at Arlington, he drew upon his knack for storytelling in an advertising career. But the nascent comedian felt unfulfilled. Following his grandmother’s advice, he tried comedy, starting under the name “Cowboy Bill” Martin in 1996. He was headlining shows within three years, and by the mid-2000s, he’d opened shows for country singers Loretta Lynn and George Strait. Martin refined his act on cruise ships, selffinanced in 2015), and in 2017 dropped the “Cowboy Bill” moniker to create a more authentic image.
