Milford, PA – The Pike County Historical Society is proud to present its new winter music series known as “Tunes on Tuesday”. The series will feature a performance by Martha Lorin, accompanied by Steve Raleigh on guitar, on Tuesday March 22nd, 2011.
Growing up in Pueblo, Colorado, Martha Lorin found herself at a crossroads of diverse cultures. Martha’s early vocal development was nourished by two generations, her Welsh grandmother, Sarah Dalton, a highly touted popular singer of the 1920’s, and her jazz pianist/singer/songwriter mother, Margaret Dalton.
Martha had her first club gig at age 19 at Enrico Banucci’s “Hungry Eye” in San Francisco, where she met long-term mentor, pianist Shelly Robin.
After the tragic loss of her husband, Capt. Bruce Walker (shot down in Vietnam and still MIA) Martha moved to Germany with their one year old baby girl for two years. Upon returning to the U.S. she completed her B.A. in American Literature at the University of Maryland, after which she moved to San Francisco to resume her singing career.
Martha’s first solo album, “The Best Is Yet To Come,” was co-produced by Joni Mitchell’s producer and sound engineer, Henry Lewy. After its release Martha toured Japan and the Philippines, and then spent a year in Los Angeles where she met and collaborated with pianist/songwriter Frank Collett. Several of those compositions were included on Martha’s 2007 release, “Don’t Slam That Door.”
New York Times music critic John Wilson says that these collaborations between Martha’s “lyrics, with music by Frank Collett, stand up well in the company of such established gems as Strayhorn’s “Day Dream” and “Easy Living” by Ranger/Robbins.
After living in New York City for some years, Martha now calls Milford, Pennsylvania home. She has served the Annual Milford Music Festival as its director and assisting with concept development. The 2004 festival featured numerous fine and musically varied groups. The main stage heard performances from Bill Mays, Jerry Vivino, Nestor Torres and The Harlem Baptist Gospel Choir; and Martha took a break from her directing duties to sing a couple of tunes with the Russ Kassoff (Martha’s partner on Blues Over Broadway) Big Band. The festival is still going strong.
Martha is constantly exploring the jazz landscape with a spirit of lifting and broadening her musical diversity. Her explorations have presented the opportunity to work with a wide range of world class musicians, including, Paul Smith, Benny Green, Richard Wyands, Harvie Swartz, Eddie Marshall, Monty Budwig, Leon Joyce, Butch Miles, and Mark Isham.
Martha has done studio work throughout the United States and occasionally appears as the headliner at NY jazz clubs as Iridium and Birdland.
Tickets for the Tunes On Tuesday performances are $40 and include a wine and cheese reception. The event begins at 7pm and will be held in the newly remodeled Foundation Room of the Columns Museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford, Pa. Please call 570-296-8126 to reserve a table.
The Columns Museum, located at 608 Broad Street in Milford, Pa., is open Wednesday’s, Saturday’s and Sunday’s from 1-4 pm. For more information call 570-296-8126 or visitpikecountyhistoricalsociety.org.
