The Martins - One Voice

There have been many influential voices along the way in our Christian pilgrimage that have proclaimed the glory of our Savior. One that particularly comes to mind is mentioned in Mark 1:3, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness." The Martins heeded the call of God and have become one voice for God in the wilderness of our wayward world.

Do those of you who grew up in the 1970s remember the popular Barry Manilow tune entitled "One Voice"? I recall sitting by my radio as a teen and listening spellbound as Manilow crooned a song about one brave voice "singing" his convictions in the darkness of a cynical world. The essence of the song was that one person, or one group of people, has the power to change their world if they will take a stand for their beliefs. The chorus came to a dramatic climax as hundreds of voices joined in with the singer for a magnificent reverberation of the theme that one voice can influence many and make our world a better place. What a beautiful word picture!

That song came to mind recently while attending a Gaither Homecoming Concert which featured The Martins, a contemporary Southern Gospel group. I remained breathless as the family trio sang "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow" in a perfect unison voice that illuminated the darkness of that auditorium and swept me away. Then, without warning, they broke into some of the most incredible harmonies I have ever heard. Their voices soared effortlessly through intricate chordal progressions as they reached the finale. I had been introduced to "Martin Music," and I loved it!

In 1994, Joyce Martin McCollough, Judy Martin Hess, and Jonathan Martin received their big break in Southern Gospel music after singing a cappella for Gloria Gaither in the restroom of a small country church during the filming of a Gaither Homecoming video. The audition was the result of an invitation by members of the Gaither Vocal Band to attend the taping session after Wylma Martin, their mother, convinced the band members to listen to a demo tape of her children singing. Liking what she heard, Gloria Gaither introduced the young singers to her husband, Bill, and the Martins were quickly signed to the Gaither music label, Spring Hill Music. What an unusual beginning for Southern Gospel's premier songsters ... or was it?

The Martins grew up in rural Hamburg, Arkansas, in an 800 square-foot cabin without electricity or indoor plumbing. To pass the time away, they began singing together as youngsters and were coached by their musical mom. One day, while listening to a country station on the radio, Jonathan unknowingly began singing a harmony line along with a Willie Nelson song. Realizing that her children possessed a unique musical talent, Wylma began working with them on a daily basis. "She would put each of us in a separate room and teach us our part of the song.

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