Martha Tilton (November 14, 1915, Corpus Christi, Texas - December 8, 2006,… Read Full Bio ↴Martha Tilton (November 14, 1915, Corpus Christi, Texas - December 8, 2006, Brentwood, Los Angeles, California) was an American popular singer during America's swing era and traditional pop period. She is best known for her 1939 recording of "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman. She was sometimes introduced as "The Liltin' Miss Tilton".
Tilton and her family lived in Texas and Kansas, relocating to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. While attending Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, she was singing on a small radio station when she was heard by an agent who signed her and began booking her with larger stations. She then dropped out of school in the 11th grade to join Hal Grayson's band.
After singing with the quartet Three Hits and a Miss, she joined the Myer Alexander chorus on Benny Goodman's radio show, Camel Caravan. Goodman hired Tilton as a vocalist with his band in August 1937. She was with Goodman in January 1938, when the band performed the first jazz performance at Carnegie Hall. She continued to appear as Goodman's star vocalist through the end of 1939.
Tilton had a major success from 1942 to 1949 as one of the first artists to record for Capitol Records. Her first recording for Capitol was "Moon Dreams", Capitol 138, with Orchestra and The Mellowaires, composed by Johnny Mercer and Glenn Miller pianist Chummy MacGregor in 1942. "Moon Dreams" would be recorded by Glenn Miller in 1944 and by Miles Davis in 1950. Among her biggest hits as a solo artist were "I'll Walk Alone," a wartime ballad which rose to #4 on the charts in 1944; "I Should Care" and "A Stranger in Town," which both peaked at #10 in 1945; and three in 1947: "How Are Things in Glocca Morra" from Finian's Rainbow, which climbed to #8; "That's My Desire", which hit #10; and "I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder", which reached #9.
After she left Capitol, Tilton recorded for other labels, including Coral and Tops. Among her later albums was We Sing the Old Songs (1957, Tops), a mix of older songs and recent standards with baritone Curt Massey, who later became well known as the composer (with Paul Henning) and singer of the theme song for the CBS-TV series Petticoat Junction.
Reviewing the two-CD set, The Liltin' Miss Tilton, (Capitol, 2000), critic Don Heckman wrote:
There are those who would say that Martha Tilton wasn't a jazz singer at all. But swing-era fans won't have any doubts, remembering her for a rocking version of "Loch Lomond" at Benny Goodman's 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.
Massey and Tilton starred in Alka-Seltzer Time, a 15-minute radio series broadcast weekdays on both CBS and Mutual. Sponsored by Alka-Seltzer, this show began in 1949 as Curt Massey Time (sometimes advertised as Curt Massey Time with Martha Tilton) with a title change to highlight the sponsor's product by 1952.
By 1953, the series was heard simultaneously on Mutual (at noon) and later that same day on CBS (at 5:45pm). Ads described the show as "informal song sessions" by vocalists Massey and Tilton, who was often billed as "The liltin' Martha Tilton." The two Texas-born singers performed with Country Washburne and His Orchestra, featuring Charles LaVere on piano. The series ended November 6, 1953. However, Massey and Tilton continued to appear together during the late 1950s on such shows as Guest Star and Stars for Defense. They also teamed to record an album, We Sing the Old Songs (1957). Tilton and Massey also co-hosted a daily fifteen minute TV show in Los Angeles for approximately seven years.
Her movies include Sunny (1941), Strictly in the Groove (1942), Swing Hostess (1944), Crime, Inc.. (1945), and The Benny Goodman Story (1956). Her last film appearance was as the band vocalist in the TV movie Queen of the Stardust Ballroom (1975). Tilton's singing voice was used for other actresses including Barbara Stanwyck (Ball of Fire), Martha O'Driscoll, and Anne Gwynne. She also appeared in several Soundies musical films of the 1940s.
Her sister, Liz Tilton, also seen in Soundies, sang with Ken Baker (mid-1930s), Buddy Rogers, Bob Crosby (1941), and Jan Garber (1942).
Tilton and her family lived in Texas and Kansas, relocating to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. While attending Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, she was singing on a small radio station when she was heard by an agent who signed her and began booking her with larger stations. She then dropped out of school in the 11th grade to join Hal Grayson's band.
After singing with the quartet Three Hits and a Miss, she joined the Myer Alexander chorus on Benny Goodman's radio show, Camel Caravan. Goodman hired Tilton as a vocalist with his band in August 1937. She was with Goodman in January 1938, when the band performed the first jazz performance at Carnegie Hall. She continued to appear as Goodman's star vocalist through the end of 1939.
Tilton had a major success from 1942 to 1949 as one of the first artists to record for Capitol Records. Her first recording for Capitol was "Moon Dreams", Capitol 138, with Orchestra and The Mellowaires, composed by Johnny Mercer and Glenn Miller pianist Chummy MacGregor in 1942. "Moon Dreams" would be recorded by Glenn Miller in 1944 and by Miles Davis in 1950. Among her biggest hits as a solo artist were "I'll Walk Alone," a wartime ballad which rose to #4 on the charts in 1944; "I Should Care" and "A Stranger in Town," which both peaked at #10 in 1945; and three in 1947: "How Are Things in Glocca Morra" from Finian's Rainbow, which climbed to #8; "That's My Desire", which hit #10; and "I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder", which reached #9.
After she left Capitol, Tilton recorded for other labels, including Coral and Tops. Among her later albums was We Sing the Old Songs (1957, Tops), a mix of older songs and recent standards with baritone Curt Massey, who later became well known as the composer (with Paul Henning) and singer of the theme song for the CBS-TV series Petticoat Junction.
Reviewing the two-CD set, The Liltin' Miss Tilton, (Capitol, 2000), critic Don Heckman wrote:
There are those who would say that Martha Tilton wasn't a jazz singer at all. But swing-era fans won't have any doubts, remembering her for a rocking version of "Loch Lomond" at Benny Goodman's 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.
Massey and Tilton starred in Alka-Seltzer Time, a 15-minute radio series broadcast weekdays on both CBS and Mutual. Sponsored by Alka-Seltzer, this show began in 1949 as Curt Massey Time (sometimes advertised as Curt Massey Time with Martha Tilton) with a title change to highlight the sponsor's product by 1952.
By 1953, the series was heard simultaneously on Mutual (at noon) and later that same day on CBS (at 5:45pm). Ads described the show as "informal song sessions" by vocalists Massey and Tilton, who was often billed as "The liltin' Martha Tilton." The two Texas-born singers performed with Country Washburne and His Orchestra, featuring Charles LaVere on piano. The series ended November 6, 1953. However, Massey and Tilton continued to appear together during the late 1950s on such shows as Guest Star and Stars for Defense. They also teamed to record an album, We Sing the Old Songs (1957). Tilton and Massey also co-hosted a daily fifteen minute TV show in Los Angeles for approximately seven years.
Her movies include Sunny (1941), Strictly in the Groove (1942), Swing Hostess (1944), Crime, Inc.. (1945), and The Benny Goodman Story (1956). Her last film appearance was as the band vocalist in the TV movie Queen of the Stardust Ballroom (1975). Tilton's singing voice was used for other actresses including Barbara Stanwyck (Ball of Fire), Martha O'Driscoll, and Anne Gwynne. She also appeared in several Soundies musical films of the 1940s.
Her sister, Liz Tilton, also seen in Soundies, sang with Ken Baker (mid-1930s), Buddy Rogers, Bob Crosby (1941), and Jan Garber (1942).
Coming Through the Rye
Martha Tilton Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Coming Through the Rye' by these artists:
We have lyrics for these tracks by Martha Tilton:
A Fine Romance A fine romance, with no kisses. A fine romance, my friend,…
A Little Jive Is Good for You It makes no difference what your ailment is It may be…
A Stranger in Town Just arrived on the seven ten, Tho't I'd see the opld…
Afraid to Dream Here we are, two silhouettes in the blue Here we are,…
All of Me All of me why not take all of me Can't you…
And The Angels Sing - 1991 Digital Remaster We meet and the angels sing The angels sing the sweetest…
Baby YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME Benny Goodman I used to be…
Blow Gabriel Blow Blow Gabriel blow! Go on and blow, Gabriel, blow! I've bee…
Deep Purple Woo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo, Wo-o-oo-wo-wo When…
Don't Worry 'Bout Me Don't worry 'bout me I'll get along Forget about me Just be …
Everything I Have Is Yours Everything I have is yours, you're a part of me Everything…
Exactly Like You I used to have a perfect sweetheart Not a real one,…
Goodnight My Love Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending Goodnigh…
How Are Things In Glocca Morra I hear a bird, Londonderry bird, It well may be he's…
I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
I Said My Pajamas My ba-by kissed me good-night, and I am glad to…
I Wonder I Wonder I Wonder All by myself alone at home a feeling blue Thoughts keep…
I'll Get By I'll get by As long as I have you Though there be…
I'll Remember April This lovely day will lengthen into evening We'll sigh goodby…
I'll Walk Alone I'll walk alone But to tell you the truth, I'll be…
If I Had a Talking Picture of You If I had a talking picture of you, I would run…
If I Had a Talking Picture of You (Remastered) If I had a talking picture of you I would run…
If I Had You If I had a talking picture of you, I would run…
In the Still of the Night In the still of the night As I gaze out of…
It's De-Lovely The night is young, the skies are clear So if…
I’ll Get By I'll get by As long as I have you Though there be…
Jeepers Creepers Jeepers, creepers, where'd ya get those peepers, jeepers, cr…
Lilli Marlene Outside the barracks, by the corner light I'll always stand…
Listen To My Heart I let a song go out of my heart It was…
Loc Loman Whither away, my bonnie, bonnie May So late and so far…
Love and I I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Misirlou Desert shadows creep across purple sands. Natives kneel in p…
Moon Dreams Moon dreams, all around my pillow Moon dreams, recall a nigh…
My Silent Love Goodnight my love, the tired old moon is descending Goodnigh…
My Sister and I My ba-by kissed me good-night, and I am glad to…
Once in a While Once in a while will you try to give One little…
Serenade In Blue When I hear that Serenade in blue I'm somewhere in another…
Somewhere In The Night Somewhere in the night chasing shadows around the bend Somew…
Thanks for the Memories Thanks for the memory Of sentimental verse, Nothing in my pu…
That S My Desire To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous, And…
The Same Old Story The same old story It's as old as the stars above The…
These Foolish Things Oh! Will you never let me be? Oh! Will you never…
This Can't Be Love This can't be love because I feel so well No sobs,…
Time On My Hands When the day fades away into twilight The moon is my…
You and I Know I could show the world how to smile I could be…
You Go to My Head You go to my head And you linger like a haunting…
You Make Me Feel So Young You make me feel so young You make me feel as…
You Took the Words Right Out of My Heart You took the words right out of my heart And it…
You Turned the Tables on Me YOU TURNED THE TABLES ON ME Benny Goodman I used to be…
You're My Desire To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous, And…
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