HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Martha Tilton

Birth of Swing Jazz: Martha Tilton

Martha Tilton

Born on 14 November 1915 in Corpus Christi, Texas, Martha Tilton was older sister to singer, Liz Tilton [Wikipedia]. Martha had a banker for a father who moved her as a toddler to Kansas, then to Los Angeles in 1922. Singing there on radio as a teenager, getting booked by more radio stations was fatal to academics, as to be such a popular singer encouraged her to quit high school in the 11th grade (circa 1932) to join Hal Grayson's band for about three years. Giving birth to a son in 1936, she joined a group called Three Hits and a Miss later that year. She worked with the band of Jimmy Dorsey for a few months in 1937, also first appearing in three films that year per 'Sing While You're Able', 'Topper' with Three Hits and a Miss and the Columbia short, 'Broker's Follies'.

'A Sailboat In the Moonlight' Martha Tilton w Benny Goodman Radio

'Benny Goodman's Swing School'

Transcribed 24 Aug 1937 in Los Angeles

Composition: Carmen Lombardo / John Jacob Loeb

'Bob White (Whatcha Gonna Swing Tonight?)' Martha Tilton w Roy Campbell's Royalists

Tilton at 7:59

From the film 'Broker's Follies' directed by Ben K. Blake Released 4 Dec 1937

Music: Bernie Hanighen Lyrics: Johnny Mercer 1937

Come Benny Goodman in Hollywood to film 'Hollywood Hotel' in 1937. Tom Lord has her singing on radio in Los Angeles for the 'Benny Goodman's Swing School' program sponsored by Camel cigarettes as early as 3 August of 1937. She was an uncredited member of the Myer Alexander Chorus on those. Numerous 'Swing School' (Camel Caravan) broadcasts followed, Tilton's first credited title in Tom Lord's sessionography being 'A Sailboat in the Moonlight' on 24 August, the transcription eventually issued in 1975 on Goodman compilation, 'The Camel Caravan: Vol 2 1937' Sunbeam 147. That also includes 'The Dixieland Band' gone down at the Madhattan Room in New York City on 21 Oct 1937. Tilton played Carnegie Hall [Wikipedia] with Goodman the following year on 16 January to sing 'Loch Lomond' and 'Bei Mir Bist Du Schön' (See 'Benny Goodman: The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert' Columbia 160 1950). The next month on the 1 February Goodman backed Tilton on her highly popular 'And the Angels Sing'. By the time she left Goodman in late 1939 ('A Home in the Clouds' among their last) she was a major star. She recorded frequently with Goodman again in the latter fifties, as well as 1978 to appear on Goodman's album, 'Live at Carnegie Hall | 40th Anniversary Concert'.

'A Home In the Clouds' Martha Tilton w Benny Goodman Radio

'Camel Caravan'

Transcribed 2 Feb 1939 in Philadelphia

Composition: Benny Carter / Benny Goodman / Bob Henderson / Kaye Parker

See the compilation 'Swingin' Down the Lane' on Giants of Jazz Records GOJ 1033 1983

'Now We Know' Martha Tilton w Artie Shaw & His Orchestra

13 May 1940 in Hollywood Victor 26642 / 20-1537 / Bluebird AXM2-5556

Trumpet: Manny Klein / Harry Geller / George Thow

Flugelhorn: John Cave Clarinet: Shaw Bass clarinet: Joe Kretcher

Alto sax: Lyle Bowen / Ben Kantor Tenor sax: Jack Stacey / Harold Lawson

Piano: Skitch Henderson Guitar: Bobby Sherwood

Violin: Bill Brower / Harry Bluestone / Sid Brokaw / Jerry Joyce, Bob Morrow / Mischa Russell

Viola: Sam Freed / David Sterkin Cello: Cy Bernard

Bass: Jud DeNaut Drums: Spencer Prinz

Music: Willard Robison Lyrics: Ray Mayer

'Loch Lomond' Martha Tilton w the Ben Pollack Orchestra

Soundie film directed by Josef Berne 1941

Composition: Anonymous 1745 during the House of Stuart Jacobite Rising (see Repertoire below)

Tilton was among the first to record for Capitol records in April of 1942 upon its founding by Johnny Mercer when she laid out 'Moon Dreams' for release on Capitol 138. She soon followed with major titles like 'I'll Walk Alone' with Paul Weston (Billboard #4 1944) as well as 'I Should Care' (Billboard #10 1945) and 'Stranger in Town' (Billboard #10 1945). 'How Are Things in Glocca Morra' with Dean Elliott reached Billboard's #8 tier in 1947 along with 'That's My Desire' (Billboard #10) and 'I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder' (Billboard #9). Her best-selling title overall had been 'I'll Walk Alone'.

'Moon Dreams' Martha Tilton w Gordon Jenkins & His Orchestra

6 April 1942 Capitol 138

Vocals backing: Mellowaires

Music: John Chalmers "Chummy" MacGregor Lyrics: Johnny Mercer

'I'll Walk Alone' Martha Tilton w the Paul Weston Orchestra

10 March 1944 Matrix 129-A Capitol 157 Billboard #4

Composition: Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston /Sammy Cahn

'Let's Capture This Moment' Martha Tilton

From the film 'Swing Hostess' directed by Sam Newfield Released 8 Sep 1944

Composition: Jay Livingston / Ray Evans

IMDb The Motion Pictures Wikipedia

'A Stranger In Town' Martha Tilton w Paul Weston & His Orchestra

17 Oct 1944 Matrix 428=2B Capitol 184 Billboard #10

Composition: Mel Tormé

'I Should Care' Martha Tilton w Paul Weston & His Orchestra

15 Dec 1944 Matrix 529-2-A Capitol 184 Billboard #10

Music: Axel Stordahl / Paul Weston Lyrics: Sammy Cahn 1944

'How Are Things In Glocca Morra' Martha Tilton w Dean Elliot & His Orchestra

15 Dec 1944 Matrix 529-2-A Capitol 345 Billboard #8

Music: Yip Harburg Lyrics: Burton Lane

(Glocca Morra is a fictional village in Ireland)

'That's My Desire' Martha Tilton w Dean Elliot & His Orchestra

13 March 1947 Matrix 1756-5 Capitol 395 Billboard #10

Music: Helmy Kresa Lyrics: Carroll Loveday

'I Wonder, I Wonder, I Wonder' Martha Tilton w Dean Elliot & His Orchestra

13 March 1947 Capitol 395 Billboard #9

Composition: Daryl Hutchins

Tilton maintained her status as a headliner for a couple decades running. She put away titles with band director, Les Brown, in 1952. Her last film appearance was in 1975, 'Queen of the Stardust Ballroom', in which she was cast as a vocalist, alike her first film role, but this time credited. Tom Lord traces Tilton to as late as 17 January 1978 at Carnegie Hall with Benny Goodman toward the album 'Live at Carnegie Hall | 40th Anniversary Concert'.