A Tennessee Tech Music Alum has won an Emmy Award for one of his original music compositions.
Jeremy Martin’s composition titled “Normandy, 1944.” It focuses on D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge, both places where his grandfather served
“I was inspired to write a piece of music about World War II,” Martin said. “And so if I had to narrow it down, I would say my grandfather, but also in a more general sense, the bravery and sacrifice of that generation.”
Martin said he began writing the composition in 2007, but took a break from writing and eventually finished the composition in late 2023 in time for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Martin said when he received the award, he was in a state of disbelief.
“When the clip of my composition and the video that went with it, when that flashed on the screen, it actually took my breath away for a second because I couldn’t believe it was actually happening,” Martin said. “And I didn’t know what to do, and it felt like an hour that I just sat there staring at the screen. It was probably maybe about two seconds, but my wife kind of sort of nudged me from the back and was like, ‘You gotta go up there.’ And so yeah, it was a little disbelief at first.”
Martin is currently the Staff Ranger and Composer for the Air Force Band of Mid-America and the First Sergeant for the Air Force Band of Mid-America. Martin said receiving the award was special to him.
“About 20 years ago, I wrote a piece of music called that others may live and it was dedicated to the Air Force Pararescuemen,” Martin said. “And at the concert where it was premiered, there were a bunch of Air Force Pararescuemen there, and after the concert, they named me an Honorary PJ. And while I don’t really claim that title, obviously, it is just an honorary title, along with this Emmy that was inspired by our service members, those are the things that remind me of why I am writing music and who I am writing for when I do a piece of music for our military members.”
Martin said he found his love for writing music when he attended Tennessee Tech’s School of Music. Martin said Tennessee Tech played a huge part in helping him get to where he is now.
Martin received the award from the Mid-America Regional Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in the category of “Outstanding Achievement in Music Composition/Arrangement.”