Sara Martin

Sara Martin (June 18, 1884 – May 24, 1955) was an American blues singer, in her time one of the most popular of the classic blues singers. She was billed as "The Famous Moanin' Mama" and "The Colored Sophie Tucker". She made many recordings, including a few under the names Margaret Johnson and Sally Roberts.

Birth and Death Data: Born June 18th, 1884 (Louisville), Died May 24th, 1955 (Louisville)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1922 - 1927

Roles Represented in DAHR: contralto, songwriter, composer, lyricist, leader, vocalist

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 139 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 80678 10-in. 11/18/1922 I loved you once but you stayed away too long Brownskin Syncopators ; Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto  
Columbia 80679 10-in. 11/18/1922 'Tain't nobody's biz-ness if I do Brownskin Syncopators ; Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto  
Columbia 80995 10-in. 4/28/1923 Mama's got the blues Fletcher Henderson ; Bessie Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter  
Columbia 81253 10-in. 10/2/1923 Uncle Sam blues Fletcher Henderson ; Clara Smith Female vocal solo ("blues singer"), with piano songwriter  
Columbia 81840 10-in. 6/24/1924 Squabblin' blues The Four Spades Jazz/dance instrumental ensemble composer  
OKeh 8582 10-in. 3/19/1924 Everybody's got the blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar vocalist, contralto, songwriter  
OKeh 8583 10-in. 3/19/1924 My man blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar vocalist, contralto, songwriter  
OKeh 8584 10-in. 3/19/1924 Pleading blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar vocalist, contralto, songwriter  
OKeh 8585 10-in. 3/19/1924 Every woman needs a man Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, contralto, songwriter  
OKeh 8593 Not documented Mar. 1924 [Unknown title(s)] Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, contralto  
OKeh 8594 Not documented Mar. 1924 [Unknown title(s)] Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, contralto  
OKeh 8595 10-in. Mar. 1924 Got to leave my home blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with guitar vocalist, contralto, songwriter  
OKeh 8596 10-in. Mar. 1924 Poor me blues Sara Martin ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo-guitar vocalist, contralto, songwriter  
OKeh 9022 Not documented Mar. 1925 [Unknown title(s)] Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, contralto  
OKeh 9023 10-in. Mar. 1925 Can't find nobody to do like my old daddy do Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, contralto, composer  
OKeh 9024 10-in. Mar. 1925 I'm sorry blues Sara Martin ; Charles Washington ; Sylvester Weaver Female vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, contralto, composer, lyricist  
OKeh 9025 10-in. Mar. 1925 Daddy, ease this pain of mine Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with banjo and guitar vocalist, contralto, composer  
OKeh 9029 10-in. Mar. 1925 Strange lovin' blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist, contralto, composer  
OKeh 9030 10-in. Mar. 1925 I can always tell when a man is treatin' me cool Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with instrumental trio vocalist, contralto, composer  
OKeh 9708 10-in. 6/14/1926 Late last night blues Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto, lyricist  
OKeh 9709 10-in. 6/14/1926 Some sweet day Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with jazz/dance band vocalist, contralto, lyricist  
OKeh 9739 10-in. 6/17/1926 John said he saw a number Arizona Dranes ; Richard M. Jones ; Sara Martin Mixed vocal trio, with piano vocalist, contralto  
OKeh S-70934 Not documented Oct. 1922 [Unknown title(s)] Sara Martin Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, contralto  
OKeh S-70935 10-in. Oct. 1922 Sugar blues Sara Martin ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, contralto  
OKeh S-70990 10-in. Nov. 1922 Achin' hearted blues Sara Martin ; Clarence Williams Female vocal solo, with piano vocalist, contralto  
(Results 1-25 of 139 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Martin, Sara," accessed October 20, 2020, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109156.

Martin, Sara. (2020). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 20, 2020, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109156.

"Martin, Sara." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2020. Web. 20 October 2020.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/109156

External Sources

Wikipedia: Sara Martin

Discogs: Martin, Sara

Allmusic: Martin, Sara

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Martin, Sara, 1884-1955 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no91020964

Wikidata: Sara Martin - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q530846

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/39572681/

MusicBrainz: Sara Martin - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/63549d1d-1c71-4464-b756-8d38a0c422b4

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