Inducted 2003

Martin Cook is a Gospel Music legend in the truest sense of the word. 

As a chemistry teacher at Swain County High School in Bryson City, North Carolina, Cook founded the Inspirations Quartet in 1964 by taking four of his students on the road to sing in the big leagues of professional Gospel Music. As the Inspirations manager, Cook built the quartet into a gospel music dynasty-one of the most successful, popular and respected gospel singing groups of all-time. 

The Inspirations are one of Southern Gospel's most awarded groups and have tallied a long list of hit songs. Largely a result of Cook's efforts, the Inspirations developed the nation's largest and one of its longest running gospel singing festivals-the Singing In The Smokies. Cook also serves as the Inspirations emcee and pianist. 

His piano-playing style is one of the industry's most recognized and distinctive. Cook was the Kingsmen Quartet's original pianist and served two tenures with this renowned group. He also played piano for the Silvertones. 

Through various roles, Cook is a man of tremendous foresight who has helped shape the path and growth of Southern Gospel Music in times of charting the future, stability in times of change and vision during crucial times.