Linda Martell

Linda Martell was born in Leesville, South Carolina (U.S.A.) on June 4, 1941. • First African-American female singer to sing at the Grand Ole Opry and held repeated performances of over 12 appearances. • First African-American female singer to appear on several popular Country-Western television shows including “Hee Haw” and “The Bill Anderson Show.” • First African-American female singer to have a top 25 Country hit: “Color Him Father” at No. 22. “Before the Next Teardrop Falls” at No. 33 and “Bad Case of the Blues” at No. 58. Exhibits of the legacy of Linda Martell (Thelma Bynem) are in museums across the United States; National Museum of African-American Music in Nashville, Tennessee…Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. On June 9, 2021, Linda Martell was presented with the CMT Equal Play Award, recognizing her legacy as country music's first prominent Black female artists and as a trailblazer of African-American representation in Country Music. The award was presented by Mickey Guyton. ***Linda Martell is singer Elzie Bynem Sister. ***Linda Martell is actress-dancer-singer Marilyn Mariani First Cousin.