Janis Darlene Martin (March 27, 1940 – September 3, 2007) was an American r… Read Full Bio ↴Janis Darlene Martin (March 27, 1940 – September 3, 2007) was an American rockabilly and country singer. With a distinctive country twang to her voice, she was one of the few women performing rockabilly music during the period of the genre's infancy, and a pioneering female innovator on the country music scene. Nicknamed "The Female Elvis" due to her vivacious on-stage dancing, she was the only female rocker given this title who was acknowledged by Elvis Presley himself. She is among the best-selling female rock acts, her 1956 single "Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll" having sold 750,000 copies.
Born in Sutherlin, Virginia, Martin was raised by a stage mother and a musician father. Before she was six, Martin could already play guitar and sing, modeling her vocal style after Eddy Arnold and Hank Williams. In time, she came to participate in statewide talent contests, beating out 200 participants. As a result, Martin was asked to play on the same bill as Cowboy Copas and Sunshine Sue, the latter being the host of the Old Dominion Barn Dance radio show, which was regularly broadcast on one of Virginia's most influential radio stations, on which Martin was now granted a spot.
As time went on, Martin tired of country music, and aspired instead to assign herself to a new, raucous style of music, which would come to be known as rockabilly. By chance, WRVA station announcer Carl Stutz had composed a song, "Will You Willyum", and asked Martin to record the song live as a demo for RCA Records. Suitably impressed with Martin's performance, RCA signed Martin, a mere two months after Elvis Presley had transferred to RCA from Sun Records. Backed with Martin's own composition, "Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll", "Will You Willyum" became a smash hit, the first in a series of country and rock hits such as "Barefoot Baby", a cover of Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby", and "My Boy Elvis".
Her initial success had garnered her appearances on nationwide television, as well the attention of Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and she was billed the official "Female Elvis". There were plans of a Martin/Presley double-bill, but wary of such a taxing tour -- Presley had recently collapsed on stage as a result of exhaustion -- Martin's parents rejected Parker's offer, and she instead toured as the top name of a series of Old Dominion Barn Dance shows.
Her last single of 1956 was "Let's Elope Baby"; in 1957, Martin did indeed elope with her boyfriend, a paratrooper, and got married. They kept their marriage secret from Martin's parents until the paratrooper was shipped off to Germany; as she was only fifteen at the time, her father attempted to have the marriage annulled. Although this did not come to pass, they aimed to keep the marriage a secret for the sake of their daughter's career. Upon her husband's return on leave, Martin became pregnant, causing RCA to drop her from the label. Though other major labels expressed interest, Martin signed with the Belgian Palette label, recording a series of downbeat love songs.
In 1960, Martin's second husband demanded that she leave the music business, an easy decision for a weary and somewhat disillusioned Martin. However, over the years, her love of music began to flourish once again, and come her husband's second such ultimatum, she chose music over him, performing with her new band, The Variations. In 1975, Martin told her untold story of teenage love in Goldmine magazine; at the time, there was a resurgence of rockabilly interest in Europe, and Martin departed on a tour of the region. With a revived career, several previously unreleased cuts were released as singles, and Bear Family released a nigh-comprehensive compilation of her '50s singles.
Martin died from cancer in 2007, only half a year after the death of her only son. Before her death, she had recorded an album with Rosie Flores, whom she had earlier worked together with alongside Wanda Jackson. These recordings were released as The Blanco Sessions in 2012. In 2010, the Library of Virginia recognized Martin as an influential Virginian, naming her one of the "Virginia Women in History". Martin's legacy endures to this day, remaining one of the most influential and beloved women of rockabilly.
Born in Sutherlin, Virginia, Martin was raised by a stage mother and a musician father. Before she was six, Martin could already play guitar and sing, modeling her vocal style after Eddy Arnold and Hank Williams. In time, she came to participate in statewide talent contests, beating out 200 participants. As a result, Martin was asked to play on the same bill as Cowboy Copas and Sunshine Sue, the latter being the host of the Old Dominion Barn Dance radio show, which was regularly broadcast on one of Virginia's most influential radio stations, on which Martin was now granted a spot.
As time went on, Martin tired of country music, and aspired instead to assign herself to a new, raucous style of music, which would come to be known as rockabilly. By chance, WRVA station announcer Carl Stutz had composed a song, "Will You Willyum", and asked Martin to record the song live as a demo for RCA Records. Suitably impressed with Martin's performance, RCA signed Martin, a mere two months after Elvis Presley had transferred to RCA from Sun Records. Backed with Martin's own composition, "Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll", "Will You Willyum" became a smash hit, the first in a series of country and rock hits such as "Barefoot Baby", a cover of Roy Orbison's "Ooby Dooby", and "My Boy Elvis".
Her initial success had garnered her appearances on nationwide television, as well the attention of Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker, and she was billed the official "Female Elvis". There were plans of a Martin/Presley double-bill, but wary of such a taxing tour -- Presley had recently collapsed on stage as a result of exhaustion -- Martin's parents rejected Parker's offer, and she instead toured as the top name of a series of Old Dominion Barn Dance shows.
Her last single of 1956 was "Let's Elope Baby"; in 1957, Martin did indeed elope with her boyfriend, a paratrooper, and got married. They kept their marriage secret from Martin's parents until the paratrooper was shipped off to Germany; as she was only fifteen at the time, her father attempted to have the marriage annulled. Although this did not come to pass, they aimed to keep the marriage a secret for the sake of their daughter's career. Upon her husband's return on leave, Martin became pregnant, causing RCA to drop her from the label. Though other major labels expressed interest, Martin signed with the Belgian Palette label, recording a series of downbeat love songs.
In 1960, Martin's second husband demanded that she leave the music business, an easy decision for a weary and somewhat disillusioned Martin. However, over the years, her love of music began to flourish once again, and come her husband's second such ultimatum, she chose music over him, performing with her new band, The Variations. In 1975, Martin told her untold story of teenage love in Goldmine magazine; at the time, there was a resurgence of rockabilly interest in Europe, and Martin departed on a tour of the region. With a revived career, several previously unreleased cuts were released as singles, and Bear Family released a nigh-comprehensive compilation of her '50s singles.
Martin died from cancer in 2007, only half a year after the death of her only son. Before her death, she had recorded an album with Rosie Flores, whom she had earlier worked together with alongside Wanda Jackson. These recordings were released as The Blanco Sessions in 2012. In 2010, the Library of Virginia recognized Martin as an influential Virginian, naming her one of the "Virginia Women in History". Martin's legacy endures to this day, remaining one of the most influential and beloved women of rockabilly.
Barefoot Baby
Janis Martin Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Janis Martin:
All Right Baby Oh well you took my love and you put me…
Bang Bang I'll trade you my heart for your heart baby Give you…
Cracker Jack JANIS MARTIN (RCA 47-7184, 1958) Cracker jack, cracker jack…
Drug Store Rock'n Roll Rock-bop-jump-thump, rock 'n' roll Drugstore's rockin', rock…
Drugstore Rock & Roll Rock-bop-jump-thump, rock 'n' roll Drugstore's rockin', rock…
Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll Rock-bop-jump-thump, rock 'n' roll Drugstore's rockin', rock…
Drugstore Rock'n Roll Rock-bop-jump-thump, rock 'n' roll Drugstore's rockin', rock…
Drugstore Rock'N'Roll Rock-bop-jump-thump, rock 'n' roll Drugstore's rockin', rock…
Hard Times Ahead Shoo, shoo, shoo-shoo Little man you left me flat Now I don'…
Love And Kisses Love and kisses, I don't want 'em Love and kisses, not…
Love Me to Pieces Why don't you love me to pieces baby Squeeze me till…
Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama, he treats your daughter mean Mama, he treats your daug…
My Boy Elvis Everybody come on down, the man with the guitar just…
Ooby Dooby Hey there baby, jump over here When you do the ooby…
Will You Willyum They can call you Bill, or even Billy But you're my…
Will You, Willyum They can call you Bill, or even Billy But you're my…
William William-William-will you walk me home tonight William-Will…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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henrythewasp
Does any actual footage exist of Janis in her early days? i was lucky enough to see her perform several times in her later life
miriam aznar martinez
1950. Me encantan esos maravillosos años
Philip Ennis
Well Youtube would be the place to look.
MrRockabilly70
What a voice. She was incredible. None of the female singers of today could hold a candle to her.Don't get me wrong, I love Wanda Jackson but Janis Martin is the real queen of Rockabilly in my humble opinion. RIP Miss Martin. I know you're rocking in heaven with all the other great rockers that have passed away. Thank you for the upload.
59cadcoupe
This song rocks ! Never heard it before,,,,
bodensick
Janis Martin signed with RCA just 2 months after Elvis. She was known as the Female Elvis. She deserves better than to be forgotten. I love Wanda, too, but Janis could rock, too
Casey Reed
She f-ing rocks!
Lionel Pomar
Janis Martin THE BEST!!!
manoel luiz teixeira
É do mesmo LP, etc. tem balanço e muito movimento. gostei - maneco - RGS -BRASIL.
Bolsonaro Trump
Isso é dos anos '40? Afinal o Rock 'n' Roll já existe desde os anos 20, só não tinha um rótulo pois era a junção de vários gêneros musicais e ainda não era explorado comercialmente como foi nos anos '50.