| Updated as of 5/01/08 Circle members and fans! ATTENTION: we are now meeting MONTHLY at Sweet Aroma -- only on the thrid (3rd) Tuesday of every month... that means the next date for the Circle will be Tuesday, May 20th. Hope to see you there! Thanks to those who came out to see me at the Belvidere Market in April! It was a wonderful couple evenings and we're going to do it again in May! Come out to see me perform on Saturday, May 17th! (See the thumbnail at the bottom of this update for the flyer details! :) ) To reiterate - The Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle is meeting at the Sweet Aroma Cafe every third (3rd) TUESDAY, 6 to 8pm. If you are in the Tullahoma area, are a songwriter, or are just someone who wants to listen to some live music, please come by and join us! We're open to the public!!! More details on the TSC page! Check out the MS Support page for anyone interested... the Tullahoma MS Self Help meeting for May will be Monday, May 12th at Western Sizzlin' on Jackson Street in Tullahoma -- 11 AM in the back room. See you then! I continue to post comments I receive about Holly Garber, Lou Pfrang and the Holly & Lou days on the Memories page as I receive them so check it out! :) Ted Garber's myspace website: http://www.myspace.com/tedgarbermusic Keep our fighting men and women serving our country in our hearts and minds always! They are paying the price to allow us the freedom to live the lives we lead! Happy Mother's Day! Kathy |
Kathy Martin
Singer ~ Songwriter ~ Guitarist ~ Poet ~ Computer Artist
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Visitors to this site
| May |
Her music can add the perfect
touch to any occasion.
"I've played for everything from huge,
outside weddings to a tiny,
hole-in-the-wall bar with a stage cage...
from a wake for a little boy in Northeast
DC to a baby shower in Potomac,
Maryland. I feel as if I've seen it all!"
touch to any occasion.
"I've played for everything from huge,
outside weddings to a tiny,
hole-in-the-wall bar with a stage cage...
from a wake for a little boy in Northeast
DC to a baby shower in Potomac,
Maryland. I feel as if I've seen it all!"
| Click above or TSC on the Menu |
Kathy most recently performed
with the band "The River", also
featuring Lou Pfrang, Bobby
Flurie, Bill Bates and
Michael Mayo.
"It's a lot of fun playing with the guys.
It's not all on your shoulders then...
and I love singing harmony. But it's
still fun to play solo, when I get the
chance.
with the band "The River", also
featuring Lou Pfrang, Bobby
Flurie, Bill Bates and
Michael Mayo.
"It's a lot of fun playing with the guys.
It's not all on your shoulders then...
and I love singing harmony. But it's
still fun to play solo, when I get the
chance.
When asked what her plans
for the future are, Kathy says,
"I think I'm learning how not to make
a ton of plans and just to take things
as they come. Doesn't mean I'm not
always thinking of different things I
might want to do, and I'm still
writing... I hope I'll always be able to
do that!"
for the future are, Kathy says,
"I think I'm learning how not to make
a ton of plans and just to take things
as they come. Doesn't mean I'm not
always thinking of different things I
might want to do, and I'm still
writing... I hope I'll always be able to
do that!"
| Please continue to keep our military personnel in your thoughts and prayers. They are serving their country in these troubled, troubled times. These are our own kids out there... whether or not we know them personally. Please keep them always on your mind! God Bless Everyone! ...yes, the price of glory is high... still paid by the fortunes of war...... |
Kathy Martin is a former Air Force brat, born in Fort Dix, NJ. Singing started in church and school
choirs, leading to wedding work. And that led to her decision to try an open mike night at a local Virginia
restaurant in 1978. Kathy worked the open mike circuit like a job – 4 different places, 4 nights a week – for
about a year and a half. Before she knew it, she’d spent 12 years as a solo artist, playing the clubs and bars
and restaurants all over the area. The last 5 of those 12 years were also spent sitting in with Holly & Lou, a
local duo act – Holly Garber and Lou Pfrang. Jobs together became more frequent and soon they were doing
club gigs, weddings, private parties and New Year’s Eve dates. Also during that time, Kathy did some
recording work for Charlie Barnett (whose band at the time was called The Correctones). He was writing
jingles, and asked Kathy to sing on his demo tapes. Some of those demos became radio commercials,
including a short-lived one for Oldsmobile and one for Banner Glass, which aired off and on for about 2 years
in the Washington/ Baltimore area.
It took about 4 years total, but she was able to release her own cassette tape, entitled “Kathy Martin – NOW”.
The title song, written by Lou Pfrang, was performed with Sanford Markley, another local artist, who did all the
arranging and recording of her original material. The half studio, half live tape was well received, but sold a
little less than 500 copies. “Marketing is everything, you know”, she laughs.
Kathy moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1991. With the live music scene in Vegas almost non-existent at the
time, she kept her foot in the music biz by going to the Karaoke clubs – even made some money that way.
She opened for the “Elvis” act at the El Morocco on the strip (she was the show’s Patsy Cline), and was also
able to start her own open mike night at a tiny place called The Glass Pool. From contacts there, she fell into
more recording work, doing background vocals for some of the “Legends”-type shows in Reno and Laughlin.
When Kathy came back from Las Vegas in 1994, she found that Lou Pfrang was working in a duo with
Ross Firey – they called themselves Riverbend. She started sitting in and, when they found they had a great
trio sound, started playing more and more with the guys as their 3rd part harmony. She also started working
with Lou as the duo Green Lights.
Over the years, Riverbend/Green Lights went through many metamorphoses. The band simply became The
River. As the core of the group, Lou and Kathy worked with many different players, including Bobby Flurie, Bill
Bates, and Michael Mayo.
Kathy learned in 1998 that she has had multiple sclerosis since at least 1991 (more probably since 1985),
and now Type 2 Diabetes has been added to her mix. It’s more difficult for her to play for long periods of
time, but she still likes to sing and play the music she loves when the opportunity presents itself. And
writing… she wants very much to continue to write more songs. She's currently playing and singing music
for masses at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Mark & Carlos every week, and she's one of the founding
members of the Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle that meets monthly to sing and play original music. And
she's branched out into children's books and poetry ventures as well (poetry has been published --- books,
not so much yet...). She’d also love to be able to sing blues and jazz standards at a piano so she wouldn’t
have to concentrate on playing guitar. Who knows... Any players out there?
choirs, leading to wedding work. And that led to her decision to try an open mike night at a local Virginia
restaurant in 1978. Kathy worked the open mike circuit like a job – 4 different places, 4 nights a week – for
about a year and a half. Before she knew it, she’d spent 12 years as a solo artist, playing the clubs and bars
and restaurants all over the area. The last 5 of those 12 years were also spent sitting in with Holly & Lou, a
local duo act – Holly Garber and Lou Pfrang. Jobs together became more frequent and soon they were doing
club gigs, weddings, private parties and New Year’s Eve dates. Also during that time, Kathy did some
recording work for Charlie Barnett (whose band at the time was called The Correctones). He was writing
jingles, and asked Kathy to sing on his demo tapes. Some of those demos became radio commercials,
including a short-lived one for Oldsmobile and one for Banner Glass, which aired off and on for about 2 years
in the Washington/ Baltimore area.
It took about 4 years total, but she was able to release her own cassette tape, entitled “Kathy Martin – NOW”.
The title song, written by Lou Pfrang, was performed with Sanford Markley, another local artist, who did all the
arranging and recording of her original material. The half studio, half live tape was well received, but sold a
little less than 500 copies. “Marketing is everything, you know”, she laughs.
Kathy moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1991. With the live music scene in Vegas almost non-existent at the
time, she kept her foot in the music biz by going to the Karaoke clubs – even made some money that way.
She opened for the “Elvis” act at the El Morocco on the strip (she was the show’s Patsy Cline), and was also
able to start her own open mike night at a tiny place called The Glass Pool. From contacts there, she fell into
more recording work, doing background vocals for some of the “Legends”-type shows in Reno and Laughlin.
When Kathy came back from Las Vegas in 1994, she found that Lou Pfrang was working in a duo with
Ross Firey – they called themselves Riverbend. She started sitting in and, when they found they had a great
trio sound, started playing more and more with the guys as their 3rd part harmony. She also started working
with Lou as the duo Green Lights.
Over the years, Riverbend/Green Lights went through many metamorphoses. The band simply became The
River. As the core of the group, Lou and Kathy worked with many different players, including Bobby Flurie, Bill
Bates, and Michael Mayo.
Kathy learned in 1998 that she has had multiple sclerosis since at least 1991 (more probably since 1985),
and now Type 2 Diabetes has been added to her mix. It’s more difficult for her to play for long periods of
time, but she still likes to sing and play the music she loves when the opportunity presents itself. And
writing… she wants very much to continue to write more songs. She's currently playing and singing music
for masses at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Mark & Carlos every week, and she's one of the founding
members of the Tullahoma Songwriter's Circle that meets monthly to sing and play original music. And
she's branched out into children's books and poetry ventures as well (poetry has been published --- books,
not so much yet...). She’d also love to be able to sing blues and jazz standards at a piano so she wouldn’t
have to concentrate on playing guitar. Who knows... Any players out there?
| If you would be interested in finding out more about the rising Diabetes epedemic in the US, please click on the butterfly icon below labeled DB and it will take you to the American Diabetes Association Website. |
| If you would be interested in finding out more about Multiple Sclerosis, please click on the butterfly icon below labeled for MS and it will take you to the NMSS Website. |
MS
DB
| If you'd be interested in learning more about what we with MS deal with every day, here's a really interesting page on the NMSS site. It's called "The Faces of MS" |
My story is under
"Facing MS with Attitude"
"Facing MS with Attitude"
| Article not available |
| Bangkok, Thailand, 1969 |
Washington Post, 1998
| Riverbend Publicity Photo, 1996 |
Cape Gazette, 1996
Reston-Herndon Folk
Club Showcase, 2004
Club Showcase, 2004
Favorites...
What Artists Were Your Biggest Influences in Music?
Billy Joel
I was and still am in awe of his songwriting talent, not to mention the piano playing AND he could sing it seemed
like everything! I knew every one of his songs by heart and for about 8 years when I was able, I went to every
concert I possibly could. He's an amazing artist who is still going strong!
Barbra Striesand
I saw her in "Funny Girl" on a 2-story high theatre screen in Bangkok, Thailand, and said WOW! I want to be able
to sing like that! I used to practice in the mirror with a hairbrush for a mike, belting out "Don't tell me not to live,
just sit and putter" at the top of my lungs along with her record. (Yes, that's right people. I said record!) :) She's
the ultimate "voice" to aspire to. And I always tried to match her note for note. I'm sure that's what helped me
gain what range I ended up with later in my career.
Glen Campbell
When we returned from Thailand, it was 1970, and there was a lot of strangeness going on in the Washington DC
area. I stayed in a lot and TV was my friend. So Glen Campbell became my friend, with his Goodtime Hour. He
doesn't know it, but he taught me to pick the guitar. I used to watch him every week and that's how I learned to do
it. Friends helped me with bar chords and things later, but my original "picking style" came from Mr. C.
Thanks, Glen!
Bette Midler
She helped me appreciate what Rock & Roll really, really was. I didn't REALLY get it until I saw her performance in
"The Rose". Everything changed for me after that. The light bulb went on! I got it.
Linda Ronstadt
Maybe my biggest influence in the '70's because I could sing all her material since we had such similar ranges and
I loved everything she seemed to choose to cover; from Smokey Robinson to Willie Nelson to Warren Zevon - she
did it all. And I wanted to do that. Plus it didn't hurt that The Eagles were her back-up band! :)
Billy Joel
I was and still am in awe of his songwriting talent, not to mention the piano playing AND he could sing it seemed
like everything! I knew every one of his songs by heart and for about 8 years when I was able, I went to every
concert I possibly could. He's an amazing artist who is still going strong!
Barbra Striesand
I saw her in "Funny Girl" on a 2-story high theatre screen in Bangkok, Thailand, and said WOW! I want to be able
to sing like that! I used to practice in the mirror with a hairbrush for a mike, belting out "Don't tell me not to live,
just sit and putter" at the top of my lungs along with her record. (Yes, that's right people. I said record!) :) She's
the ultimate "voice" to aspire to. And I always tried to match her note for note. I'm sure that's what helped me
gain what range I ended up with later in my career.
Glen Campbell
When we returned from Thailand, it was 1970, and there was a lot of strangeness going on in the Washington DC
area. I stayed in a lot and TV was my friend. So Glen Campbell became my friend, with his Goodtime Hour. He
doesn't know it, but he taught me to pick the guitar. I used to watch him every week and that's how I learned to do
it. Friends helped me with bar chords and things later, but my original "picking style" came from Mr. C.
Thanks, Glen!
Bette Midler
She helped me appreciate what Rock & Roll really, really was. I didn't REALLY get it until I saw her performance in
"The Rose". Everything changed for me after that. The light bulb went on! I got it.
Linda Ronstadt
Maybe my biggest influence in the '70's because I could sing all her material since we had such similar ranges and
I loved everything she seemed to choose to cover; from Smokey Robinson to Willie Nelson to Warren Zevon - she
did it all. And I wanted to do that. Plus it didn't hurt that The Eagles were her back-up band! :)
What's in the CD player lately?
I just got the new Eagles CD -- "Long Road Out of Eden" -- Love It! :) They still got it!
I just got the new Eagles CD -- "Long Road Out of Eden" -- Love It! :) They still got it!
Seen any good movies?
Finally got to see all those I missed: the 3rd Pirates, the 3rd Danny Ocean caper and the 5th
Potter movie! Whew! My DVD is getting a workout! :)
Finally got to see all those I missed: the 3rd Pirates, the 3rd Danny Ocean caper and the 5th
Potter movie! Whew! My DVD is getting a workout! :)
What are you watching on TV?
Never changes! CSI, CSI-Miami, and CSI-NY, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds and NCIS. We also
started watching Eureka - really like the quirkiness! ;) And I've taken to watching The Closer
with Kyra Sedgwick! Love her, thank you very much!
HOWEVER... I have become a Design Show junkie as of late!!! Color Splash, Design on a
Dime, Divine Design and the like... watch 'em every chance I can catch 'em!!!! Can't seem to
get enough!
Otherwise, Headline News, The History Channels, The Military Channel, Hallmark or The
Biography Channel are usually on in our house! :)
Never changes! CSI, CSI-Miami, and CSI-NY, Numb3rs, Criminal Minds and NCIS. We also
started watching Eureka - really like the quirkiness! ;) And I've taken to watching The Closer
with Kyra Sedgwick! Love her, thank you very much!
HOWEVER... I have become a Design Show junkie as of late!!! Color Splash, Design on a
Dime, Divine Design and the like... watch 'em every chance I can catch 'em!!!! Can't seem to
get enough!
Otherwise, Headline News, The History Channels, The Military Channel, Hallmark or The
Biography Channel are usually on in our house! :)
What are you reading these days?
All things Nora Roberts and/or J.D. Robb... can't seem to get enough... and I was given a
collection of Reader's Digest stories in a book... they have all been really good so far!!
All things Nora Roberts and/or J.D. Robb... can't seem to get enough... and I was given a
collection of Reader's Digest stories in a book... they have all been really good so far!!
If you want more information on Oral
Cancer and what you can do, click
on the Oral Cancer Foundation logo
to go to their website.
Cancer and what you can do, click
on the Oral Cancer Foundation logo
to go to their website.
Click this ribbon
to go to The
Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer
Foundation
website.
to go to The
Susan G. Komen
Breast Cancer
Foundation
website.
Click the hat at
right to go to
another cool
website:
http://www.check
yourboobies.org/
right to go to
another cool
website:
http://www.check
yourboobies.org/
| The Battle This is dedicated to anyone out there battling with the dreaded Big C, whether it's breast cancer or any other kind, like my sister with oral cancer right now. In the last statistics I saw, 1 in 33 breast cancer patients loses their fight with cancer. That's hopeful for the 32, but we need more help for the one we're losing... click on the ribbon at right if you'd like to find out how you can help. |
| Pretty in Pink |
| Ringlets |
| These are some items from the "Art Gallery". If you want to take your life in your own hands and peruse the rest of the collections, click on the flower pot above. :) |
| Springtime |
| Spider Mum |
| Come back and visit again! |
| Welcome to My Website! www.kathymartinmusic.com Any comments or problems with this site, please contact the Webmaster on this link. |
Biography
Kathy's Art Appreciation & Poetry Corner |
| This started out as a joke, but has become fun and even sometimes inspirational! I won't win any awards, but we sometimes get some laughs with the art and now I've found a place to post my poetry! If you want to peruse the "Art Gallery" click on the flower pot above and it will take you to the entire collection -- but at your own risk! I take no responsibility!!! :) And to browse through "Poet's Pantry" click on the tea cup! |
Press/Articles
| June 9th at the Jackson Civic Center.. We were there! Check it out! Click on the thumbnails: GO GREEN COFFEE COUNTY! |
Kathy Martin's singing style is reminiscent of Patsy Cline with the soul of Mahalia Jackson. Whether it's singing
covers or her own original compositions, Kathy wows her audiences with a heartfelt delivery that comes from deep
within and has folks asking for more. If I'd been a car, then the first time I heard Kathy Martin sing she'd have blown
my doors off. Kathy is a woman who sings with such deep down feeling… that I can't help but feel she's singing just
for me.
Karen from Annapolis, MD
Kathy’s music is like medicine for my ears.
Vince from Cumberland, RI
I always enjoy Kathy's songs, but the thing I think I like best is that they tell interesting stories. "The story behind the
song" is one of the most entertaining parts of listening to Kathy.
Sara from Tullahoma, TN
My description of (Kathy) would be "awesome voice, awesome delivery".
Kathleen from Vienna, VA
covers or her own original compositions, Kathy wows her audiences with a heartfelt delivery that comes from deep
within and has folks asking for more. If I'd been a car, then the first time I heard Kathy Martin sing she'd have blown
my doors off. Kathy is a woman who sings with such deep down feeling… that I can't help but feel she's singing just
for me.
Karen from Annapolis, MD
Kathy’s music is like medicine for my ears.
Vince from Cumberland, RI
I always enjoy Kathy's songs, but the thing I think I like best is that they tell interesting stories. "The story behind the
song" is one of the most entertaining parts of listening to Kathy.
Sara from Tullahoma, TN
My description of (Kathy) would be "awesome voice, awesome delivery".
Kathleen from Vienna, VA
How would you describe Kathy's music?
Tullahoma News, 2007
| Click the link below to join Garth Brooks through the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation to donate today! |
| Peace |
Click on the thumbnail for more info
on "After Hours" at the Belvidere
Market on Saturday, May 17th!
on "After Hours" at the Belvidere
Market on Saturday, May 17th!
| Hearts and Flowers |
