Martha Tilton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martha Tilton
Tilton in 1933
Background information
Birth name	Martha Ellen Tilton
Also known as	The Liltin' Miss Tilton
Born	(1915-11-14)November 14, 1915 Corpus Christi, Texas, U.S.
Died	December 8, 2006(2006-12-08) (aged 91) Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Swing Jazz Traditional pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, actress
Years active	1930s–1990s
Labels	Capitol, Coral, Tops
Associated acts	Three Hits and a Miss, Benny Goodman

Martha Tilton (born November 14, 1915 – died December 8, 2006) was a famous American singer. She was very popular during the swing era and the traditional pop music period. Many people know her best for her 1939 song "And the Angels Sing" which she recorded with Benny Goodman.

Martha Tilton was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the United States. Her family moved to Edna, Kansas, when she was just three months old. Later, when she was seven, they moved to Los Angeles. While she was a student at Fairfax High School, she sang on a small radio station. An agent heard her and helped her get bookings on bigger stations.

She left school in the eleventh grade to join Hal Grayson's band. After singing with a group called Three Hits and a Miss, she joined the Myer Alexander Chorus. This chorus was part of Benny Goodman's radio show, Camel Caravan. Goodman then hired Martha as a singer for his own band in August 1937.

Martha was with Benny Goodman's band when they performed at the famous Carnegie Hall in January 1938. She remained his main singer until the end of 1939. Her song "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman became a number one hit in 1939.

Martha Tilton's Music Recordings

Martha Tilton had great success from 1942 to 1949. She was one of the first artists to record for Capitol Records. Her very first song for Capitol was "Moon Dreams" in 1942. This song was later recorded by other famous musicians like Glenn Miller and Miles Davis.

Some of her biggest hits as a solo artist include "I'll Walk Alone" in 1944. This wartime song reached number 4 on the music charts. In 1945, "I Should Care" and "A Stranger in Town" both reached number 10. She had three more hits in 1947: "How Are Things in Glocca Morra," "That's My Desire," and "I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder."

After leaving Capitol Records, Martha recorded for other companies like Coral and Tops. She even released an album called We Sing the Old Songs in 1957 with singer Curt Massey. A music critic once said that swing music fans would always remember Martha Tilton for her exciting song "Loch Lomond" at the 1938 Carnegie Hall concert.

Martha Tilton on the Radio

In 1941, Martha Tilton sang on the popular radio show Fibber McGee and Molly. She also starred in Campana Serenade, a music show that aired on NBC and CBS from 1942 to 1944. A newspaper at the time called her role on Fibber McGee and Molly a big moment in her career.

In the early 1940s, she also sang on Ransom Sherman's show on CBS. Martha Tilton and Curt Massey starred together in Alka-Seltzer Time. This was a 15-minute radio show that played on weekdays. It started in 1949 and was sponsored by Alka-Seltzer.

The show was known for its "informal song sessions" by Martha and Curt. They often performed with Country Washburne and His Orchestra. The show ended in 1953, but Martha and Curt continued to appear together on other radio shows.

Martha Tilton's Film Appearances

Martha Tilton also appeared in several movies. These include Sunny (1941), Strictly in the Groove (1942), and Swing Hostess (1944). She was also in Crime, Inc. (1945) and The Benny Goodman Story (1956).

Her last film appearance was in the TV movie Queen of the Stardust Ballroom (1975). Martha Tilton's singing voice was sometimes used for other actresses in movies, like Barbara Stanwyck. She also appeared in short musical films called Soundies in the 1940s.

Martha Tilton on Television

Martha Tilton worked with Curt Massey again on television in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They had their own show called Curt Massey Show on KRCA-TV in Los Angeles. In 1960, Martha won a local Emmy Award for being an outstanding female personality on TV.

She won the same award again in 1961, and their show also won an award for being the Most Outstanding Musical or Variety Show. Martha Tilton also appeared as a guest on The Jack Benny Program in 1963. On that show, she and Jack Benny talked about their time entertaining soldiers for the USO.

Martha Tilton's Life Story

Martha Tilton first married Benny Goodman's manager. They had two sons together. Later, in 1948, she married James Brooks, who was a test pilot. They had one daughter.

Martha Tilton passed away peacefully at her home in Brentwood on December 8, 2006.

Martha Tilton's Hit Songs

Songs with Benny Goodman

More Music with Benny Goodman

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

Solo Hit Songs