A third-generation musician, Martin McCain’s career spans an impressive range of musical genres. As an ambassador of the bass trombone, Martin maintains a versatile performance schedule as a soloist, recording artist, chamber musician, orchestral musician, jazz/commercial musician, and educator. He has been nominated for a Grammy and was featured in Billboard magazine as an “Emerging Artist,” with performances described as "solid and masterful," (International Trombone Association Journal) and having a “warm and beautiful,” tone (Glissando Magazine).

McCain’s performances include concerts at Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Croatian National Theatre, Blue Note Tokyo, Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club, among others. His performances have been broadcast on CNN, Radio Television Hong Kong, and NPR's "Performance Today.”

As a recording artist, Martin has released four award-winning CDs: Renew, Trombone Czar: The Extended Version, Shades, and Trombone Czar: Russian Treasures Recorded Live! He can be heard on RCA Records, Motown Records, Atlantic Records, Summit Records, and numerous film and video game soundtracks. As a soloist, Martin has performed with the Croatian Army Wind Band, the United States Army Concert Band "Pershing's Own," the United States Army Brass Quintet, Laredo Philharmonic Orchestra, Kingsville Symphony Orchestra, and the Balcones Chamber Orchestra.

McCain is a member of the Legendary Count Basie Orchestra and has performed with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Frank Sinatra Jr. Orchestra. In addition to being the leader of the award-winning Austin-based jazz trombone ensemble, JazzBonez, he is the trombonist of the Orpheum Theatre Memphis and regularly performs for several Broadway shows including recent tours of Some Like It Hot, MJ, the Musical, Mrs. Doubtfire, Company, and Funny Girl. Martin has collaborated with numerous illustrious artists such as Earth, Wind & Fire, Roberta Flack, Bel Biv Devoe, Jon Batiste, Chaka Khan, Ne-Yo, Robert Glasper, The Roots, Lenny Williams, the Temptations, and the Four Tops. He can be heard on various R&B albums with Memphis’ Royal Studio Horns.

As an orchestral musician, McCain is a member of the IRIS Collective, Victoria Bach Festival Orchestra, and the Gateways Festival Orchestra, and he regularly performs with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has been invited to be guest bass trombone with major ensembles, including the symphony orchestras of Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Toronto, Utah, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. As a chamber musician, Martin is an associate artist with the Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass, a founding member of the Minor 4th Trombone Quartet, and regularly performs with his wife, pianist Artina McCain, as the McCain Duo.

In fall 2023, Dr. McCain returned to his hometown to join the faculty at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music. He was previously Professor of Trombone at Texas State University in addition to holding teaching positions at Henderson State University and Huston-Tillotson University. Dr. McCain’s students have been extremely successful in international and national solo and ensemble competitions and are regular winners of university concerto competitions. In recognition of his teaching, Martin received the College Achievement Award in Teaching and the Presidential Distinction Award for Excellence in both Teaching and Scholarly/Creative Activity categories. His students have been accepted into some of the nation's most prestigious graduate programs, such as the Juilliard School, Eastman School of Music, Yale University, Northwestern University, Manhattan School of Music, and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, and they have careers as performers and educators from K-12 to the university level. In addition to his university teaching duties, Martin has spent summers on the faculty of the Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Interharmony International Music Festival (Italy), the SliderAsia Music Festival (Hong Kong), and the English Brass Academy (Croatia).

McCain earned his Bachelor of Music degree with a business minor at the University of Southern Mississippi, as well as a Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Martin McCain is a performing artist for S.E. Shires and plays on the "McCain" signature mouthpiece series manufactured by Pickett Brass. In his spare time, Martin is an avid BBQ pitmaster and sports enthusiast.