282:, Willie Webb, James Lawrence, and W.C. Herman. This group was named the Martin and Frye Singers, and in 1936, the group adopted the name of The Roberta Martin Singers. The Roberta Martin Singers (RMS) contained no traditional bass. For a brief period of time, the group was known as the Martin and Martin Singers, when Sallie Martin joined Roberta's group. That venture was short lived. In 1939, Anderson briefly left the group and returned in 1941 before departing for a final time in 1943, also in 1939, Martin added the first female voice to the group, Bessie Folk. By the mid-1940s, the RMS added two more women to their ranks, Sadie Durrah and Delois Barrett (Campbell), who would go on to found
327:, Martin's step daughter. Smith had previously been featured as the organist on their 1949–1952 recordings and would occasionally vocalize with the group. This time, her stay with the group would last over a decade. Smith's singing would become more substantial, becoming a regular background vocalist and soloist in 1957. Beginning in 1959, Smith would occasionally leave the organist's duties to the Savoy studio organist and accompany the group on the piano during recording sessions. Smith's organist skills were so popular that in 1962, Savoy released an LP of gospel instrumentals with Smith's organ as the only accompaniment titled
380:. She was replaced by Louise McCord. Gloria Griffin departed the group in 1967 to embark on a solo career, as well. Earlier in the decade, Martin ceased playing piano for the group, and Lucy Smith became the group's accompanist and musical director. Under the direction of Smith, the sound of the group began to change slightly, as song arrangements become more choral sounding in nature, drum beats became more prevalent than in previous recordings, and the electric bass guitar was added.
25:
391:, which was written by Jessie Jimerson a.k.a. Jessie Phillips, a longtime friend of Roberta Martin and childhood friend of James Cleveland. Shortly after the recording, Martin's health took a severe decline, which effectively made "I Have Hope" the last song she ever recorded. On January 18, 1969, Roberta Martin died of cancer. Without their leader, the Roberta Martin Singers tried to continue but eventually disbanded in 1970
387:. Barrett-Campbell returned to the group for the session, as did Martin. Catherine McIntosh (Austin), a member of Martin's church choir known for working with members of the group in various capacities, sang with the group during this recording session, though not as an official member. Martin had experienced a short rebound from her illness and was able to lead one song on the album
343:. Their first session with Savoy was on January 31, 1957 in New York City. In 1958, the RMS scored their first big hit with Savoy records, "God Specializes" featuring Gloria Griffin on lead. 1958 also brought Archie Dennis into the group as a replacement for Romance Watson, as Watson began a solo career recording
462:
The number of former
Roberta Martin Singers began to dwindle, with the deaths of James Lawrence in 1990; Gloria Griffin, Myrtle Scott, and Robert Anderson in 1995; Norsalus McKissick in 1997; Bessie Folk on February 1, 2001; Rev. Archie L. Dennis on October 26, 2001; Eugene Smith on May 9, 2009; Lucy
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Most of these recordings featured only a piano, organ, and the occasional drum accompaniment. Martin's piano playing was done in such a way that she combined both classical music and blues in her piano playing. Martin played mainly in the middle of the keyboard, providing secondary beats in the upper
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In 1949, Eugene Smith became the group's business manager and booking agent as Martin began to concentrate on publishing music and running her own music school. Members were added or replaced older members, such as the addition of
Romance Watson in 1949, and Myrtle Scott and Myrtle Jackson in 1951.
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as the "Roberta Martin
Singers of Chicago", singing "Precious Memories" with Norsalus McKissick on lead. After the group's first release, the RMS made more recordings, for Religious Records of Detroit, Michigan through 1947, and for Apollo Records beginning in 1949 through 1955. Some of their most
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in a weeklong revival at the Music Hall in
Houston, Texas. The first recording session to feature Dennis with the RMS wasn't made until 1959. Later that year, Dennis left the RMS to serve in the US Army. Dennis's place was taken by Harold Johnson until Dennis was honorably discharged in 1961 and
319:
Some members left to form their own groups or to sing in other groups. Willie Webb left to form the Willie Webb
Singers in 1949, but returned to the group in 1953. In late 1950, Norsalus McKissick and Bessie Folk teamed up with James Cleveland to form the Gospelaires. The Gospelaires didn't last
454:
The group came together for a series of reunion concerts in 1981, commemorating a
Smithsonian Conference on Roberta Martin, consisting of Eugene Smith, Norsalus McKissick, Archie Dennis, Romance Watson, Delois Barrett-Campbell, Louise McCord, Gloria Griffin, Bessie Folk, Lucy Smith Collier, and
445:
television program. In the mid or late 1970s, Collier suffered a stroke which paralyzed her on one side, rendering her unable to play the piano or organ. Collier's stroke did not diminish her singing ability, and she continued to sing and record occasionally until the 1990s.
331:. By 1963, Smith replaced Martin as the regular pianist and musical director on their recordings. Gloria Griffin was brought on board in 1957 to replace Bessie Folk, who'd been involved in a serious auto accident and could not sing in the group as a result.
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popular releases during this time include "Old Ship of Zion" (1949), "Yield Not to
Temptation" (1947), "He Knows How Much You Can Bear" (1949), "Only a Look" (1949), and Eugene Smith's composition, "The Lord Will Make a Way" (1951).
270:, who in that same year had just become acquainted with gospels music, which was different from the traditional spirituals which were popular at the time. Theodore Frye and Thomas A. Dorsey were directing a junior choir at
399:
After Martin's death and the disbanding of the group, the former group members began to focus their attention on solo careers and careers with other groups. Delois
Barrett-Campbell began working full-time with her group,
368:. During their time with Savoy, the group made more popular recordings, including "Grace" (1958), ""Hold the Light" (1959), "No Other Help I Know" (1962) and "There Is No Failure in God" (1963), among others.
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It was also during this time that
Roberta Martin became ill. Martin retired the group for a short period of time in the mid 60's, though the group came together in 1967 to record an album titled
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By the mid-1960s, the group was beginning to slow down. Delois
Barrett-Campbell left the group in 1966, with Roberta Martin's encouragement, to embark on an independent career with
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In 1956, more changes were made to the group. Willie Webb, who had served as a singer and organist for the group prior to 1949 and during 1953–1956 left, and was replaced by
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Louise McCord recorded material with Rev. James Cleveland and the Voices of Tabernacle in the late 60s before embarking on a solo career recording for
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in Chicago, Illinois, and asked Martin to serve as the accompanist. From this junior choir, Martin selected six young men at random to form a group,
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Only a Look : A Historical Look at the Career of Mrs. Roberta Martin and the Roberta Martin Gospel Singers of Chicago, Illinois
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returned to the group. In 1962, former member Bessie Folk returned to the RMS to record with them on their album titled
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Smith Collier on September 19, 2010; Delois Barrett Campbell on August 2, 2011; and Louise McCord on November 3, 2020.
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in the following decades. Willie Webb became the accompanist for the Chicago-based
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621:. Washington and London: Smithsonian Institution Press. pp. 256–257.
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concert of 1972. After her time with Stax, McCord went on to record for
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ranges of the keyboard, and bringing each song to a ritard at the end.
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Association from 1972–1977 before founding his own church in 1986.
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long, and McKissick was back with the RMS by 1951, Folk by 1955.
680:"(PLEASE SUBSCRIBE) GLORIA GRIFFIN OF "THE R.M. SINGERS" SINGS"
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as accompanist. More reunion concerts followed into the 1990s.
360:. During 1963, Bessie Folk left for a final time to join the
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were an American gospel group based in the United States.
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Gloria Griffin released her first solo album in 1967 for
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Chicago Daily Defender (Big Weekend Edition) (1966-1973)
771:"Eugene Smith, a Sparkplug of Gospel Music, Dies at 88"
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With these new members, the group began recording for
507:"RIP: Catherine Austin Baymon, Chicago Gospel Singer"
849:"Delois Barrett Campbell, Gospel Singer, Dies at 85"
715:. Bloomington, IN: Westbow Press. pp. 214–216.
481:"Savoy Records Catalog: 14100 series - album index"
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
294:In 1947, the group made their first recording for
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650:"The Roberta Martin Singers RARE Interview 1981"
438:television program during the 1970s and 1980s.
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911:How Sweet the Sound: The Golden Age of Gospel
312:Martin also began to team up with a young
904:The Gospel Sound: Good News and Bad Times
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
745:"GOSPEL MUSIC PIONEER BESSIE SMITH FOLK"
821:Ramirez, Margaret (22 September 2010).
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325:Lucy "Little Lucy" Smith (Collier)
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939:The Gospel Discography: 1943–1970
847:Grimes, William (5 August 2011).
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709:Greer, Ronald L. (2015).
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923:Bernice Johnson Reagon,
485:Jazz Discography Project
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879:Journal of Gospel Music
537:J.O. Patterson Ministry
511:Journal of Gospel Music
430:, and worked with Rev.
272:Ebenezer Baptist Church
215:Delois Barrett-Campbell
278:, Norsalus McKissick,
362:Sallie Martin Singers
16:American gospel group
43:improve this article
690:on 29 February 2020
591:"About Our Founder"
558:"In Spring Musical"
402:the Barrett Sisters
378:the Barrett Sisters
335:Recording for Savoy
284:the Barrett Sisters
873:Marovich, Robert.
853:The New York Times
775:The New York Times
505:Marovich, Robert.
218:Lucy Smith-Collier
197:Norsalus McKissick
564:. 18 April 1970.
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36:verification
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533:"My Mother"
389:I Have Hope
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