Janis Martin

A compelling rockabilly front-woman dubbed “the Female Elvis,” Janis Martin possessed a gutsy stage manner and a deep, throaty voice that belied her youth. She was working alongside artists such as Ernest Tubb and the Carter Family by the time she was in her mid-teens, and was still only 15 when her first release, “Will You Willyum,” was released by RCA and swiftly became a hit. Her career halted when she became a mother at 17, although she continued to make occasional public appearances. She returned in 1970, visiting Europe regularly, where she built a loyal following. The German label Bear Family reissued her entire catalogue in the ‘80s.