Martha Davis (singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Martha Davis
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| Background information | |
| Born | December 14, 1917 Wichita, Kansas, U.S. |
| Died | April 6, 1960 (aged 42) New York, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, pianist |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Labels | Jewel Records, ABC Paramount |
| Associated acts | Martha Davis & Spouse, Lee Young |
Martha Davis (born December 14, 1917 – died April 6, 1960) was a talented American singer and piano player. She was famous for her funny musical act called "Martha Davis & Spouse." This act was very popular in the late 1940s and 1950s.
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Martha Davis was born in Wichita, Kansas. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois. In the mid-1930s, she met the famous musician Fats Waller. He greatly influenced her music style. Martha often performed as a singer and pianist in clubs around Chicago.
In 1939, Martha met Calvin Ponder. He was a talented bass player. Calvin later played in Earl Hines' band. Martha and Calvin became a couple and got married in 1948.
Becoming a Star
In 1948, Martha and Calvin moved to California. Martha started recording music for Jewel Records in Hollywood. She worked with a trio that included Calvin Ponder on bass. Ralph Williams played guitar, and Lee Young played drums.
Their version of "Little White Lies" became a hit. It reached number 11 on the Billboard R&B music chart. Later that year, she sang a duet with Louis Jordan called "Daddy-O." This song reached number 7 on the R&B chart.
"Martha Davis & Spouse"
Martha and Calvin started performing together on stage. They created a musical comedy act called "Martha Davis & Spouse." Their act was very funny because it played on their different sizes. Martha was larger, and Calvin was smaller.
This act became incredibly popular. They toured all over the country. They also had a long-running show at The Blue Angel in New York City.
Martha and Calvin also appeared in movies. These included Smart Politics with Gene Krupa. In the mid-1950s, they were in variety films like Rhythm & Blues Revue and Rock 'n' Roll Revue. Many of their performances were filmed for video jukeboxes. They also appeared on TV shows, including Garry Moore's show on CBS.
Later Years
After a few years, Martha and Calvin started recording music again in 1957. They released two albums with the ABC Paramount label.
Martha Davis sadly passed away from cancer in New York in 1960. She was 42 years old. Calvin Ponder died ten years later, at the age of 53.
