Linda Martell
The trailblazing Black female country star.
Linda Martell.
About The artist
With the release of her album Color Me Country in January of 1970, Linda Martell became the first commercially successful Black female country artist. She became the first solo Black woman to play at the Grand Ole Opry in 1969. She would go on to play at the Opry eleven more times.
Did you know...
Linda was discovered by furniture sales-turned agent Duke Rayner while singing rhythm and blues at an Air Force base in North Carolina. She initially thought Duke was a "kook" when he began calling her long-distance asking if she would make a demo tape singing country and western.
