From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Martha Tilton (b. November 14, 1915, Corpus Christi, Texas - d. December 8, 2006, Brentwood, California) was an American popular singer best-known for her 1939 recording of "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman. She also had major success from 1942-49 as one of the first artists to record for Capitol Records.

Among her biggest hits as a solo artist were I'll Walk Alone, a wartime ballad which peaked at #4 on the charts in 1944; I Should Care and A Stranger in Town, both of which peaked at #10 in 1945; and three in 1947: How Are Things in Glocca Morra from Finian's Rainbow, which reached #8; That's My Desire, which hit #10; and I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder, which peaked at #9. It could also be said that she was well known for singing "And the Angels Sing,"

After she left Capitol, Tilton recorded for various other labels, including Coral and Tops. Among her later albums was We Sing the Old Songs (1957, Tops), a mix of older songs and recent standards with Curt Massey, who later became well-known for singing the theme song to the CBS-TV series Petticoat Junction.

She and Massey co-hosted a daily half-hour TV show in Los Angeles for approximately seven years.

Tilton also appeared in films. Her singing voice was also used in many films dubbed over other actresses including Barbara Stanwyck, Martha O'Driscoll and Anne Gwynne.

Tilton and her family lived in Texas and Kansas before relocating to Los Angeles when she was 7.

She began singing on a small radio station in Los Angeles while attending Fairfax High School. An agent heard her, signed her and began booking her on larger radio stations.

Tilton dropped out of high school in the 11th grade to join Hal Grayson's band. She later joined a quartet, Three Hits and a Miss, and then became a member of the chorus on Benny Goodman's radio show Camel Caravan. Goodman hired Tilton has a vocalist with his band in 1937. She was with Goodman in 1938 when the band performed the first Jazz performance at Carnegie Hall.

• Download sample of And the Angels Sing by Tilton and the Benny Goodman big band, a legendary 1939 swing recording.

• Official Martha Tilton Website, including biography, discography, image gallery and audio samples.

• McLellan, Dennis. (2006, Dec. 12). Martha Tilton, 91; '40s vocalist known for 'And the Angels Sing'. Los Angeles Times