Martha Tilton

Biography

She became a notable vocalist of the Big Band Era and known around the circuit as the "Liltin' Miss Martha Tilton." Born on November 14, 1915, this trim, Texas-born blonde was the fortunate product of a musical family, with her parents actively playing the piano and singing at home while she grew up. The family moved to Los Angeles when Martha was but seven months old. With a naturally gifted voice, she began as an unpaid teen singer on local radio but it wasn't long before she attracted an agent and started getting paid bookings at such venues as the Coconut Grove with Al Lippan's band. Martha eventually joined singer Jo Stafford and others to form a swing chorus for Benny Goodman on his radio show. She became Goodman's lead vocalist after his former girl singer parted ways, and hit the big time with the song "And the Angels Sing." She stayed with Goodman for over three years recording, performing one-nighters and singing on the airwaves. In 1942, Martha became one of the first artists to record for Capitol Records, staying with the company until 1949. During the war years she also appeared in a handful of movies and was prominently featured in Swing Hostess (1944) and Crime, Inc. (1945). Other movies coming her way usually featured her as a specialty singer as opposed to incorporating her into the plot. Songs from some of those movies included lovely renditions of "Let's Capture That Moment," "What a Fool I Was," "I'm Guilty" and "Say It With Love." In later years she earned her own radio programs ("Liltin' Martha Tilton Time") and proceeded solidly into the 1950s, often finding TV singing work to supplement her income. Some of her bigger recording hits included "How Are Things in Glocca Mora," "Time After Time," "I Should Care," "A Stranger in Town," and "I'll Walk Alone." Martha married an aerospace executive in 1953, yet continued her career and appeared as a guest vocalist in the Goodman biopic The Benny Goodman Story (1956) starring Steve Allen reprising her solid hit "And the Angels Sing." Within a few years she retired permanently to raise three children.