Bobbi Martin

Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Martin (November 29, 1939 – May 2, 2000) was an American country and pop music singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She grew up in Oslo, Minnesota and began her singing career in Baltimore, working her way up from local venues onto the national nightclub circuit.

Martin was born to Virginia Chaney (1919-1971) and an unknown father. Her mother refused to tell her the name of her birth father, something that haunted Bobbi her entire life. When Martin was 5, her mother married Allen C. Paulson (1920-1983) in Temple, Texas, whom she met while they were both in the military, and the family lived in his hometown of Oslo, Minnesota, on the North Dakota border. Bobbi had a half-brother, Terry Paulson, born in 1946. Martin was in the habit of representing herself as being four years younger. Hence, she was 60 when she died.

Martin recorded for Coral Records for several years before releasing her debut album, Don't Forget I Still Love You. The title track was a hit in the U.S., peaking at No. 2 on the Easy Listening (adult contemporary) chart and No. 19 on the Billboard Hot 100. A follow-up single "I Can't Stop Thinking of You", first introduced on the nationally televised Dean Martin Show won her the Cashbox Disc Jockey Poll as Most Promising Female Vocalist of 1965. While popular at nightclubs in Miami Beach, New York, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico, and on TV appearances with the Jackie Gleason, Ronnie Dove, Tonight, and Dean Martin Shows, it would be 5 years before she scored another hit with "For the Love of Him", from the album of the same name. This song went to No. 1 on the Adult Contemporary chart and No. 13 on the Hot 100. The singer charted many smaller regional, Bubbling Under Hot 100 and Easy Listening chart records up to 1972.

Martin died of cancer on May 2, 2000 at the Brighton Wood Knoll medical facility in Baltimore. Martin had one daughter, Shane Clements.

Birth and Death Data: Born November 29, 1943 (Brooklyn), Died May 2, 2000 (Baltimore)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1961 - 1966

Roles Represented in DAHR: vocalist

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 110302 3/6/1961 Cry, cry, cry Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 110303 3/6/1961 Nothing but love Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 110304 3/6/1961 I need your love Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 110305 3/6/1961 Battle hymn Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 111023 8/25/1961 Why should I cry Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 111024 8/25/1961 Wooden heart Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 111806 2/23/1962 Forgive me Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 111807 2/23/1962 Tired and blue Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 112680 10/4/1962 Afraid Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 112681 10/4/1962 I'll never stop loving you Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 112682 10/4/1962 Why, tell me why Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 112683 10/4/1962 Brenda, Brenda Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 113983 8/28/1963 A girl's prayer Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 113984 8/28/1963 A you're adorable Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 116823 12/13/1965 Something on my mind Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 116824 12/13/1965 Sometimes Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 116825 12/13/1965 Don't take it out on me Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca 116826 12/13/1965 [Unknown title(s)] Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 12900 3/28/1964 Does your heart hurt a little Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 12901 3/28/1964 Don't forget I still love you Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 12902 3/28/1964 On the outside (looking in) Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 12903 3/28/1964 I'm a fool (to go on loving you) Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 13199 12/14/1964 Anytime Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 13200 12/14/1964 This love of mine Bobbi Martin vocalist  
Decca NA 13201 12/14/1964 Everybody loves somebody Bobbi Martin vocalist  
(Results 1-25 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Martin, Bobbi," accessed April 19, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/329941.

Martin, Bobbi. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 19, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/329941.

"Martin, Bobbi." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 19 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/329941

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