Janis Martin

This site is ran by Janis' grandaughter Lindsey.



Martin was born in Sutherlin, Virginia. At the age of eleven she began her musical career as a member of the WDVA Barndance in Danville, VA. She was spotted performing at the Tobacco Festival in South Boston at the age of thirteen and soon became a regular on the Old Dominion Barn Dance in Wheeling, WV. In March of 1956, at the age of fifteen, she cut her first RCA session and became known as “The Female Elvis.” She was voted the “Most Promising Female Artist of 1956” by the annual disc jockey convention and she later received the Billboard Magazine Award. Janis performed on the Ozark Jubilee and the Grand Ole Opry. She also became known through television media as a guest of the Tonight Show, the Today Show, the Grand Ole Opry and American Bandstand.



Janis was living in Danville when Rockabilly became popular once again in the 1970s. Having raised her son, she went back on the road and her son accompanied her on drums. In the 1980s her popularity was revived in Europe. On March 27, 1982 Janis celebrated her 42nd birthday with ten thousand fans in Holland. Janis had her final show at the Richmond Crossroads Arts Center - 3/24/07. Janis died from cancer on September 3, 2007. She is greatly missed.