RCA signed McBride to a recording contract in 1991.įocusing on traditional country music, McBride’s debut album, The Time Has Come, was released in May 1992. To get the demo to the talent scouts at RCA Records, she got past the company’s strict rules about submitting new material by writing, in large letters, “REQUESTED MATERIAL” on a bright purple package, even though RCA had not asked for the tape. She made a demo recording of five songs to pitch to record labels. So that the newlyweds could spend more time together, Martina took a job on Brooks’s tour selling T-shirts. John started working as a sound engineer on concert tours and, in 1991, became production manager for Garth Brooks. The McBrides moved to Nashville in January 1990, as country music exploded in popularity. After returning home to sing with the Schiffters at a battle of the bands, she decided to move to Nashville and sing country music. After moving to Wichita, Kansas, she performed in rock bands in area clubs and met recording engineer John McBride, whom she married in 1988. By age seven, she began performing with her family’s band, the Schiffters. Born July 29, 1966, Martina Mariea Schiff was raised on a dairy and wheat farm in Sharon, Kansas, population 200.
