Janis Martin- The Female Elvis

Out of all the rockabilly singers in the 1950s, the one I relate to the most is Janis Martin. For one, we have the same birthday (March 27). She was known for her powerful voice and equally powerful performances. She had a sweet schoolgirl look, but a hellraiser attitude with a deep love for 50s R&B. She also didn't seem too concerned with what people thought of her, she followed her heart even when everyone tried to pressure her otherwise.




Hard to believe that she was only 15 when she did most of her recording, isn't it? Oddly enough, she was one of the only female rockabilly singers that got support in her singing career from a major label. So much support that she was dubbed The Female Elvis. It was the fact that she got married and pregnant that ended her career in the 50s. She eventually got back on track in the 70s and rode the rockabilly revival that started in the 80s. Unfortunately, Janis died from cancer in 2007, but she was performing up until the end.

If you aren't familiar with Janis' music, pick up at least one cd for your collection. She was one of the best.