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Martha Tilton

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Birth name
  
Martha Ellen Tilton

Name
  
Martha Tilton

Occupation(s)
  
Singer, actress

Role
  
Singer

Years active
  
1930s–1990s

Siblings
  
Liz Tilton

Labels
  

Martha Tilton httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommons77

Also known as
  
The Liltin' Miss Tilton

Born
  
November 14, 1915Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S. (
1915-11-14
)

Genres
  
SwingJazzTraditional pop

Died
  
December 8, 2006, Brentwood, California, United States

Movies
  
Swing Hostess, Queen of the Stardust, Crime - Inc, The Ladies Sing Jazz: Vol 1, The Swing Years: Lullaby of

Benny goodman martha tilton and the angels sing


Martha Tilton (November 14, 1915 – December 8, 2006) 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.

Contents

Martha Tilton Martha Tilton Collection Old Time Radio

Tilton was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Her family moved to Edna, Kansas, when she was three months old. They relocated 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 eleventh 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 gave the first jazz performance at Carnegie Hall. She continued to appear as Goodman's star vocalist until the end of 1939.

Martha Tilton Martha Tilton Celebrities lists

Martha tilton and the angels sing


Recordings

Martha Tilton Martha Tilton IMDb

Tilton had a major success from 1942-49 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.

Martha Tilton Martha Tilton All About Jazz

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.

Martha Tilton Benny Goodman Martha Tilton AND THE ANGELS SING YouTube

Reviewing the two-CD set, The Liltin' Miss Tilton, (Capitol, 2000), critic Don Heckman wrote:

Martha Tilton Martha Tilton And The Angels Sing 1939 YouTube
"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."

Radio

In 1941, Tilton sang on Fibber McGee and Molly and starred on Campana Serenade, a program of popular music on first NBC and then CBS in 1942-1944. A contemporary newspaper article called Tilton's role on Fibber McGee and Molly "a milestone in her personal history ... Martha's biggest transcontinental [broadcast] since her days as soloist with Benny Goodman."

In the early 1940s, she also sang on Ransom Sherman's program on CBS. 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. Prior to that, Tilton had co-starred on The Jack Smith Show, another 15-minute radio musical program.

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 Texan 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).

Films

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, Martha O'Driscoll, and Anne Gwynne.

She 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).

Television

Tilton once again worked with Massey in the late 1950s and early 1960s—this time on KRCA-TV in Los Angeles. They were reunited on that station's Curt Massey Show. In 1960, Tilton won a Southland Emmy Award as outstanding female personality for her work on KRCA. In 1961, Tilton repeated as outstanding female personality, and the program won the Most Outstanding Musical or Variety Show award.

Family

Tilton's first husband, Leonard Vannerson, was manager for Benny Goodman. They had two sons. She married James Brooks, a test pilot, in 1948. They had a daughter.

Politics

Tilton was a Republican.

With Benny Goodman

With Benny Goodman

  • The Complete RCA Victor Small Group Recordings (RCA Victor, 1935–39 [1997])
  • Filmography

    Actress
    1975
    Queen of the Stardust Ballroom (TV Movie) as
    Singer
    1956
    The Benny Goodman Story as
    Martha Tilton
    1950
    Lilli Marlene as
    Singer - Lili Marlene (uncredited)
    1945
    Crime, Inc. as
    Betty Van Cleve
    1944
    Murder in the Blue Room as
    Nan's Singing Voice (voice, uncredited)
    1944
    Swing Hostess as
    Judy Alvin
    1942
    Jan Savitt's Serenade in Swing (Short) as
    Band Singer
    1942
    Strictly in the Groove as
    Martha Tilton
    1941
    Love Turns Winter to Spring (Short) as
    Martha Tilton - Band Singer
    1941
    What the Country Needs (Short) as
    Singer
    1941
    You'll Never Get Rich as
    Singer in 'Wedding Cake Walk' Number (uncredited)
    1941
    A Little Jive Is Good for You (Short) as
    Nurse / Singer
    1941
    Sunny as
    Queen of Hearts
    1940
    Tickled Pinky (Short) as
    Singer
    1940
    Varsity Vanities (Short)
    1940
    Buck Benny Rides Again as
    Joan Cameron (singing voice, uncredited)
    1940
    Irene as
    Susie Smith - Show Singer (uncredited)
    1937
    Broker's Follies (Short) as
    Singer
    1937
    Topper as
    Member of 'Three Hits and a Miss' (uncredited)
    1937
    Sing While You're Able as
    Singing Party Guest
    Music Department
    1944
    Murder in the Blue Room (singing voice: Anne Gwynne - uncredited)
    1941
    Ball of Fire (singing voice: Barbara Stanwyck - uncredited)
    Soundtrack
    2020
    Uncle Frank (performer: "Does Everyone Know About This")
    2011
    L.A. Noire (Video Game) (performer: "That's My Desire")
    2010
    The Laundromat (Short) (performer: "Alice Blue Gown")
    2009
    Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV Movie documentary) (performer: "And the Angels Sing")
    2001
    Focus (performer: "Does Everyone Know About This" (1945))
    1981
    Remember When... (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
    - The Birds and the Bees - (performer: "I'll Walk Alone")
    1963
    The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
    - Jack Does the U.S.O. Show (1963) - (performer: "I'll Remember April", "Too Marvelous for words" - uncredited)
    1956
    The Benny Goodman Story (performer: "And the Angels Sing")
    1945
    Crime, Inc. (performer: "I'm Guilty", "Lonely Little Camera Girl", "What a Fool I Was")
    1944
    Murder in the Blue Room (performer: "One Starry Night" - uncredited)
    1944
    Swing Hostess (performer: "Let's Capture That Moment", "Say It With Love", "I'll Eat My Hat", "Highway Polka", "Got An Invitation", "Music To My Ears")
    1944
    South of Dixie (performer: "I'm A-Headin' South", "Cross My Heart")
    1944
    Week-End Pass (performer: "All or Nothing at All")
    1943
    Crazy House (performer: "Jealous" - uncredited)
    1942
    Strictly in the Groove (performer: "Somebody Else is Taking My Place")
    1941
    Love Turns Winter to Spring (Short) (performer: "Love Turns Winter to Spring")
    1941
    What the Country Needs (Short) (performer: "What the Country Needs")
    1941
    Ball of Fire (performer: "Drum Boogie" (1941) - uncredited)
    1941
    You'll Never Get Rich (performer: "The Wedding Cake Walk" - uncredited)
    1941
    A Little Jive Is Good for You (Short) (performer: "A Little Jive Is Good for You" - uncredited)
    1941
    Sunny (performer: "The Lady Must Be Kissed")
    1940
    Varsity Vanities (Short) (performer: "Who's Yehoodi?", "Got Love")
    1940
    Irene (performer: "Alice Blue Gown" (1940) - uncredited)
    Self
    1993
    American Masters (TV Series documentary) as
    Self
    - Benny Goodman: Adventures in the Kingdom of Swing (1993) - Self
    1971
    The Merv Griffin Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Big Band Singers (1971) - Self
    1963
    The Jack Benny Program (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Jack Does the U.S.O. Show (1963) - Self
    1955
    Shower of Stars (TV Series) as
    Self - Singer / Self
    - More Gold Records (1956) - Self - Singer
    - Gold Records (1955) - Self
    1955
    The Tonight Show (TV Series) as
    Self - singer
    - Buster Keaton, Martha Tilton (1955) - Self - singer
    - Martha Tilton, the Page Cavanaugh Trio (1955) - Self - singer
    1954
    Screen Snapshots: Hollywood Stars on Parade (Documentary short) as
    Self
    1952
    The Colgate Comedy Hour (TV Series) as
    Self - Singer
    - Host: Donald O'Connor; Guests: Hedy Lamarr, Tony Dexter, Martha Tilton, Sid Miller, Scatman Crothers, Tom D'Andrea, Hal March, Al Goodman & his Orchestra (1952) - Self - Singer
    1950
    The Alan Young Show (TV Series) as
    Self
    - Martha Tilton and Joe Besser (1950) - Self
    1943
    New Orleans Blues (Short) as
    Self
    1942
    The Boogie Woogie Boogie Man (Short) as
    Self
    1941
    Rhythm Revel (Short) as
    Self
    Archive Footage
    2009
    Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV Movie documentary) as
    Self
    1991
    Lifestyles of the Rich and Animated (TV Movie) as
    Clarice (uncredited)

    References

    Martha Tilton Wikipedia


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