Born on this day in Markneukirchen, Germany, Christian Frederick Martin Sr. (1796–1873) became the patriarch of the Martin guitar tradition, makers of some of the world’s finest acoustic guitars for generations.

Martin apprenticed under renowned luthier Johann Stauffer, then emigrated to New York City, where he opened a workshop and music store. In 1838, he moved his one-man shop to Nazareth, Pennsylvania, and for six generations the family remained there, creating beautiful guitars with a reputation for quality craftsmanship.

“Built like a Martin” became an industry standard. The popular Dreadnought model became one of the most copied guitar shapes in the world, a design that carried both power and clarity into new musical eras.

Many believe the instrument’s unique sound cannot be duplicated. For Hawaiians, the koa Martin ukulele has a sound sweeter than heaven. Hank Williams slung his Martin across his shoulder and changed the landscape of country music. Willie Nelson calls his “Trigger.” And a young Elvis Presley used a Martin to help create his famous “Sun Sessions” recordings.

Building a guitar, explained Martin’s grandson Frank Henry Martin, "takes care and patience. Care in selecting materials, laying out proportions, and attending to details that add to the player’s comfort. Patience in giving the necessary time to finish every part. A good guitar cannot be built for the price of a poor one, but who regrets the extra cost for a good guitar?"

In that way, the “blue guitar” becomes more than an instrument. It becomes a promise: that what we shape with devotion can shape us back, changing “things as they are” into something truer, something sung.