Martha Tilton American jazz singer Date of Birth: 14.11.1915 Country: USA

Biography of Martha Tilton

Martha Tilton, also known as "Liltin Miss Tilton," was an American jazz singer who made history as the first non-classical vocalist to perform at Carnegie Hall. Born on November 14, 1915, in Corpus Christi, Texas, Tilton's family relocated to California where she began singing on Los Angeles radio while attending high school.

After graduating from the 11th grade, Tilton joined Hal Grayson's group and later worked with Jimmy Dorsey. She also appeared in the film "Topper" with Cary Grant and became part of the vocal group "Three Hits and a Miss." It was during her audition with "Three Hits and a Miss" that Benny Goodman, the "King of Swing," hired Tilton to be a part of his own radio show, "Camel Caravan." Goodman believed he had finally found a true top-class vocalist and recorded a significant portion of his vocal material with Tilton.

Tilton's performance with Goodman at Carnegie Hall in 1939 became a notable milestone in the development of American musical culture in the 20th century. Following the success of her song "And the Angels Sing," Tilton found work in Hollywood, singing off-screen and dubbing for stars such as Barbara Stanwyck in the film "Ball of Fire" (1941), Martha O'Driscoll, and Ann Gwynne.

Expanding her career, Tilton began appearing in films, including the musical "Sunny" (1940), the musical comedy "You'll Never Get Rich" (1941), "Swing Hostess" (1944), and "Crime Inc" (1945). Her last appearance on the big screen was in the 1950 British drama "Lilli Marlene."

After leaving Capitol Records, Tilton worked with other labels, including Coral and Tops. Among her later albums was "We Sing the Old Songs" (1957), a combination of old-time songs and contemporary trends, performed with Kurt Massey, which was later used in the television series "Yubochkino Station."

In addition to her radio work and singing career, Tilton toured with comedian Jack Benny and appeared on his and Bob Hope's television shows in the early 1950s. In 1955, she made the decision to step away from her career and dedicate herself to raising her daughter.

Martha Tilton passed away on December 8, 2006, at the age of 91. She was married three times, with her third husband being James Brooks. Tilton had a son, a daughter, and five grandchildren. Known for her down-to-earth nature and refusal to conform to mannerisms, Tilton was not just a simple canary who sang one hit wonder. She was a vibrant personality, a true gem with a penchant for improvisation, and some considered her not just a jazz singer but a stylish pop vocalist working with jazz musicians.