Roberta Martin

Roberta Martin was an African American gospel singer, pianist, composer, and arranger. Born in Helena, Arkansas in 1907, Martin moved to Chicago as a child and began studying music at an early age. She became a prominent figure in the gospel music scene in the 1930s and 1940s, founding the Roberta Martin Singers, one of the most influential gospel groups of the era.

The Roberta Martin Singers were known for their unique sound, which blended traditional gospel music with elements of jazz and blues. Martin’s arrangements and compositions, many of which she wrote herself, were considered groundbreaking at the time and helped to shape the modern gospel music genre.

Martin’s contributions to gospel music were recognized by the United States Postal Service in 1998, when it issued a commemorative stamp in her honor as part of its “Gospel Singers” series. The stamp features a portrait of Martin, along with the text “Roberta Martin, Gospel Composer and Performer.” The stamp serves as a tribute to Martin’s enduring legacy as a pioneering figure in gospel music and her significant contributions to American culture.