 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Martha Bass" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(June 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Martha Bass | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1921-03-07)March 7, 1921 |
| Died | September 21, 1998(1998-09-21) (aged 77) St. Louis, Missouri, U.S. |
| Genres | gospel |
| Occupation | singer |
Martha Bass (March 7, 1921 – September 21, 1998) was an Americangospel singer.
After migrating toSt. Louis as a young girl, she joined the Pleasant Green Baptist Church, where she was a promising gospel vocalist. She came under the authoritative and watchful tutelage of MotherWillie Mae Ford Smith, the head of the Soloists Beareau in gospel composerThomas A. Dorsey's National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses and the founder of the St. Louis Chapter of the organization, and it was there that she developed into a "house wrecker" as they are called in gospel.
With Mother Ford's teaching and a wealth of church singing experience under her belt, she left St. Louis in the early 1950s to travel with the greatClara Ward Singers, but left after one year. Only one recording, "Wasn't it a Pity How They Punished my Lord", remains of her time with the Clara Ward Singers.
In the 1960s her album, "I'm So Grateful", established her as a gospel singer of the first rank. When her daughterFontella Bass[1] returned to her gospel roots, Martha Bass cut several tracks with Fontella and Martha's son, the gospel singerDavid Peaston.[2] Martha was married to James Peaston (1914-1981).
In 1970, Bass recorded 'Walk With Me Lord' with the Harold Smith Majestics Choir withChecker Records. The song was featured inSelma, the 2014Ava DuVarnay film throughGeffen Records andUniversal Music Enterprises.[3]
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
