Marilyn Martin
Encyclopedia
Marilyn Martin is an American
singer best known for her 1985 hit duet with Phil Collins
, "Separate Lives
."
Born in Tennessee
but raised in Louisville
, Kentucky
, Martin gained notice as a back-up singer for such artists as Stevie Nicks
, Joe Walsh
, Don Henley
, Tom Petty
and Kenny Loggins
, touring with Nicks and Walsh. She became a protegee of Doug Morris
, then the head of Atlantic Records
, who had heard her backing up Nicks on the Rock a Little
album and was impressed enough to ask for a demo. She recorded the Stevie Nicks song "Sorcerer" (on which Nicks features on backing vocals) for the Jim Steinman soundtrack of the film "Streets Of Fire" (1984). Morris signed Martin to a two album contract and connected her with Phil Collins
for "Separate Lives," part of the soundtrack for the 1985 film White Nights. The song was a number one hit in the U.S. and a Top 5 hit in the United Kingdom. Her self-titled debut album was released in January 1986, with the single "Night Moves" reaching number 28 on the U.S. charts.
Her second album released in 1988, This Is Serious, was notable for containing the single "Possessive Love" written and produced by Madonna
and Patrick Leonard
. It also featured a duet with David Foster, "And When She Danced" which was used as the 'love theme' in the 1988 film Stealing Home
. A second single was released from the album, "Love Takes No Prisoners", with the haunting ballad "Quiet Desperation" as the B-side.
However, neither the singles nor the album were successful and Atlantic released Martin from her contract, although she continued her career as a back-up vocalist into the 1990s. She is currently a realtor in Nashville, Tennessee.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer best known for her 1985 hit duet with Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
, "Separate Lives
Separate Lives
"Separate Lives" is a 1985 song recorded by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture White Nights. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts as well as in Canada. It reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.Songwriter Stephen...
."
Born in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
but raised in Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Martin gained notice as a back-up singer for such artists as Stevie Nicks
Stevie Nicks
Stephanie Lynn "Stevie" Nicks is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her work with Fleetwood Mac and an extensive solo career, which collectively have produced over forty Top 50 hits and sold over 140 million albums...
, Joe Walsh
Joe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
, Don Henley
Don Henley
Donald Hugh "Don" Henley is an American singer, songwriter and drummer, best known as a founding member of the Eagles before launching a successful solo career. Henley was the drummer and lead vocalist for the Eagles from 1971–1980, when the band broke up...
, Tom Petty
Tom Petty
Thomas Earl "Tom" Petty is an American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He is the frontman of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and was a founding member of the late 1980s supergroup Traveling Wilburys and Mudcrutch. He has also performed under the pseudonyms of Charlie T...
and Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
, touring with Nicks and Walsh. She became a protegee of Doug Morris
Doug Morris
Doug Morris is an American music executive. He is the current Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Entertainment. He previously served as Chairman and CEO of the Universal Music Group from 1995 to 2011.-Life and career:...
, then the head of Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, who had heard her backing up Nicks on the Rock a Little
Rock a Little
Rock a Little is the third studio album by American singer-songwriter and Fleetwood Mac vocalist Stevie Nicks.Released in late 1985 while Fleetwood Mac were still on a lengthy hiatus following their album Mirage in 1982, Rock a Little hit the top 20 in its second week and ultimately peaked at #12...
album and was impressed enough to ask for a demo. She recorded the Stevie Nicks song "Sorcerer" (on which Nicks features on backing vocals) for the Jim Steinman soundtrack of the film "Streets Of Fire" (1984). Morris signed Martin to a two album contract and connected her with Phil Collins
Phil Collins
Philip David Charles "Phil" Collins, LVO is an English singer-songwriter, drummer, pianist and actor best known as a drummer and vocalist for British progressive rock group Genesis and as a solo artist....
for "Separate Lives," part of the soundtrack for the 1985 film White Nights. The song was a number one hit in the U.S. and a Top 5 hit in the United Kingdom. Her self-titled debut album was released in January 1986, with the single "Night Moves" reaching number 28 on the U.S. charts.
Her second album released in 1988, This Is Serious, was notable for containing the single "Possessive Love" written and produced by Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
and Patrick Leonard
Patrick Leonard
Patrick Raymond Leonard is an American songwriter, keyboardist and music producer, known for his longtime collaboration with Madonna on many different recordings....
. It also featured a duet with David Foster, "And When She Danced" which was used as the 'love theme' in the 1988 film Stealing Home
Stealing Home
Stealing Home is a 1988 movie, starring Mark Harmon, Jodie Foster, Jonathan Silverman, and Harold Ramis. The film is directed by Steven Kampmann and William Porter.-Plot summary:...
. A second single was released from the album, "Love Takes No Prisoners", with the haunting ballad "Quiet Desperation" as the B-side.
However, neither the singles nor the album were successful and Atlantic released Martin from her contract, although she continued her career as a back-up vocalist into the 1990s. She is currently a realtor in Nashville, Tennessee.
External links
- Marilyn Martin - YouTube artist page