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The Roberta Martin Singers were one the premier American gospel groups of the middle decades of the 20th century, with their leader Roberta Martin famed as one of the most innovative and influential figures in the history of gospel music. The writer Robert Marovitch said that the group “gave gospel its signature ensemble sound”. Lead singer and main songwriter Roberta Martin founded the group in 1933, although their recording career did not start until 1947, lasting until Martin’s health failed in the 1960s and she died from cancer in 1969. This anthology addresses their most active and productive core era. This 97-track 4-CD collection comprises most of their A and B sides on the Fidelity, Religious Records Of Detroit, Recorded In Hollywood, Apollo, and Savoy labels from this era, plus tracks from their Savoy albums “Twelve Inspirational Songs”, “God Is Still On The Throne”, “Since I Met Him”, “Grace” and “It Was The Blood” not otherwise featured on singles. Among the featured singers and other members alongside Martin were Eugene Smith, Bessie Folk, Deloris Barrett, Norsalus McKissick, Myrtle Jackson, Willie Webb, Lucy Smith, Gloria Griffin, Romance Watson, Archie Dennis, Harold Johnson and others. It’s an absolute feast of top-class gospel music spanning what was a golden era for the genre, and it offers an inspiring and uplifting showcase for the group’s highly distinctive approach.
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