Born Layton Redell Zbornik, Jr., on August 26, 1940, in Albia, Iowa, to Layton Redell Zbornik, Sr. (1916-2003) and Edna Carrie (Green) Zbornik (1918-2003). Zbornik had a band called The Hot Rods in 1955, changing the name to Jerry Martin and The Pacers in 1956. The stage name Jerry Martin was taken from the comedy team Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. He graduated from Albia High School in 1958, then began touring as a full-time musician. His first recording, [m1224513], is generally regarded as the first rock 'n roll record to have been recorded and commercially released in Iowa. He signed to the Kansas City label R (2) in 1959, with his first release for that label, [m1069802], recorded in Memphis with Elvis Presley’s band, according to a 1998 profile in the “Globe-Gazette” of Mason City, Iowa. That same article reported that his two other singles for the label were cut in Chicago.

Zbornik retired the "Jerry Martin" moniker in 1961 after marrying and settling into a career as a radio personality.