{"id":670,"date":"2015-03-10T00:36:15","date_gmt":"2015-03-10T05:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/?p=670"},"modified":"2015-03-16T23:27:06","modified_gmt":"2015-03-17T04:27:06","slug":"roberta-martin-and-her-singers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/2015\/03\/10\/roberta-martin-and-her-singers\/","title":{"rendered":"Roberta Martin and her Singers"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Roberta Martin proved that singing was not the only role open to women in gospel music. Her work has inspired many of the gospel genre and always instilled joy and encouragement to her listeners. Let this song play as you read!<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"584\" height=\"329\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/urp6ERhegDY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p>In 1933, Roberta Martin and Theodore Frye organised a male quartet with Martin as the accompanist and occasional soloist. By 1936, the group was renamed The Roberta Martin Singers. The group was one of the first featuring male and female singers and soon developed a certain style that was called \u2018The Roberta Martin Sound.\u2019 The gospel songs are composed songs but within a clearly discernable gospel performance tradition. Generally, that tradition is more reflective of folk music stylistic traits than distinct compositional techniques, but Roberta Martin\u2019s style of arranging and performing was unique and recognizable. &#8220;&#8216;The Roberta Martin sound&#8217; that boasted musical accompaniment of rich harmonies and fluid runs and arpeggios along with falling melodic lines and innovative use of dissonance.\u201d\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_672\" style=\"width: 264px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.20.43-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-672\" class=\"wp-image-672 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.20.43-PM-254x300.png\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 11.20.43 PM\" width=\"254\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.20.43-PM-254x300.png 254w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.20.43-PM-127x150.png 127w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.20.43-PM.png 430w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 254px) 100vw, 254px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-672\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thoughts from Theodore C. Stone&#8217;s &#8220;Personality Spotlight&#8221; on Roberta Martin&#8217;s work. (Citation 2)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_669\" style=\"width: 310px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.12.38-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-669\" class=\"wp-image-669 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.12.38-PM-300x220.png\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 11.12.38 PM\" width=\"300\" height=\"220\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.12.38-PM-300x220.png 300w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.12.38-PM-150x110.png 150w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.12.38-PM-409x300.png 409w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.12.38-PM.png 583w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-669\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Citation 2)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>During the 1940\u2019s and 1950\u2019s music, The Roberta Martin Singers were among the best in the country and the group toured the United States and Europe. By 1947, the Roberta Martin Singers had begun their recording career and received multiple Gold Record Awards.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<p>One thing that followed through the entire process was Roberta\u2019s drive to give meaning and joy to the music. Consequently, the music the Roberta Martin created influenced many and became a staple for the Afro-American Gospel genre.<\/p>\n<p>What is undoubtedly true is that Roberta and her Singers made a huge contribution to gospel music history. The Gospel sound that Roberta Martin began is everywhere. In the Anthony Heilbut book, The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times, he gives Roberta the credit to the feel of the rock genre.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.51.35-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-674\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.51.35-PM-300x192.png\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 11.51.35 PM\" width=\"476\" height=\"308\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>After her death on January 18, 1989, the huge turnout for her funeral was just a small sign of gospel\u2019s hold on its followers.\u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff\">6\u00a0<\/span>On 15th July 1998 the United States Postal Service issued four 32 cent commemorative stamps honoring four of the queens of gospel music &#8211; Mahalia Jackson, Clara Ward, Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Roberta Martin. <span style=\"color: #0000ff\">7<\/span>\u00a0The Smithsonian was recognizing a woman who was majorly influential as a\u00a0singer, pianist, composer, choral organizer, arranger, music publisher, and overall advocate for the Gospel tradition.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_675\" style=\"width: 201px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.22.37-PM.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-675\" class=\"wp-image-675 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.22.37-PM-191x300.png\" alt=\"Screen Shot 2015-03-09 at 11.22.37 PM\" width=\"191\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.22.37-PM-191x300.png 191w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.22.37-PM-95x150.png 95w, https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/593\/2015\/03\/Screen-Shot-2015-03-09-at-11.22.37-PM.png 322w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 191px) 100vw, 191px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-675\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">(Citation 8)<\/p><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">1\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000\">McNeil, William K., ed.\u00a0<i>Encyclopedia of American gospel music<\/i>. Routledge, 2013. p. 242.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">2<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000\">\u00a0Stone, T. C. (1960, Jan 23). Personality spotlight.<i>\u00a0The Chicago Defender (National Edition) (1921-1967)<\/i>\u00a0Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com\/docview\/492935100?accountid=351.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">3<span style=\"color: #000000\">\u00a0McNeil, William K., ed.\u00a0<i>Encyclopedia of American gospel music<\/i>. Routledge, 2013. p. 242.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">4\u00a0<\/span>Heilbut, Anthony.\u00a0<i>The gospel sound: Good news and bad times<\/i>. Hal Leonard Corporation, 1975. p, x.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">5\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff\"><span style=\"color: #000000\">Ibid, p, x.<\/span><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">6\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000\">Ibid, p, x.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">7\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000\">McNeil, William K., ed.\u00a0<i>Encyclopedia of American gospel music<\/i>. Routledge, 2013. p. 242.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff\">8\u00a0<\/span>Stone, T. C. (1960, Jan 23). Personality spotlight.<i>\u00a0The Chicago Defender (National Edition) (1921-1967)<\/i>\u00a0Retrieved from http:\/\/search.proquest.com\/docview\/492935100?accountid=35.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Roberta Martin proved that singing was not the only role open to women in gospel music. Her work has inspired many of the gospel genre and always instilled joy and encouragement to her listeners. Let this song play as you &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/2015\/03\/10\/roberta-martin-and-her-singers\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1293,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[258,260,264,257,259,263,265,256,244,261,262],"class_list":["post-670","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-1940s","tag-afro-american-gospel-genre","tag-choral-music","tag-gospel-tradition","tag-joy","tag-pianist","tag-publisher","tag-roberta-martin","tag-singer","tag-the-gospel-sound","tag-us-postal-service"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7jEhR-aO","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1293"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":678,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/670\/revisions\/678"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pages.stolaf.edu\/americanmusic\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}