Martha Tilton (November 14, 1915 - December 8, 2006) was an American popular singer during America's swing era and traditional pop period. She is best known for her 1939 recording of "And the Angels Sing" with Benny Goodman.Tilton and her family lived in Texas and Kansas, relocating to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. While attending Fairfax High School in Los Angeles, she was singing on a small radio station when she was heard by an agent who signed her and began booking her with larger stations. She then dropped out of school in the 11th grade to join Hal Grayson's band.After singing with the quartet Three Hits and a Miss, she joined the Myer Alexander chorus on Benny Goodman's radio show, Camel Caravan. Goodman hired Tilton as a vocalist with his band in August 1937. She was with Goodman in January 1938, when the band performed the first jazz performance at Carnegie Hall. She continued to appear as Goodman's star vocalist through the end of 1939.
I'm very grateful for what happened to me. I was well paid for what I loved doing most -- singing.
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Fact
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Was known as "The Liltin' Miss Martha Tilton".
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Her 1947 song "That's My Desire" was featured in the 2011 video game L.A. Noire (2011).
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After retirement, Martha's hobbies were Golf, Tennis, Needlepoint, Reading, & Swimming.
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During World War 2, Martha toured the world with Jack Benny, Carole Landis and Larry Adler. They performed hundreds of shows for the servicemen stationed overseas.
Among her later albums was "We Sing the Old Songs" (1957), a mix of older songs and recent standards with Curt Massey, who later became well-known for singing the theme song to the CBS rural series Petticoat Junction (1963).
$18 Million
