Janis Darlene Martin (March 27, 1940 – September 3, 2007) was an American rockabilly and country music singer. She was one of the few women working in the male-dominated rock and roll music field during the 1950s and one of country music's early female innovators. Martin was nicknamed the Female Elvis for her dance moves on stage, similar to those of Elvis Presley.
Before she was six, Martin was already singing and playing the guitar, inspired by Eddy Arnold and Hank Williams. Over the years, this resulted in statewide contests with over 200 contestants, which she won. As a result, Janis was asked to play on the same bill as Cowboy Copas and Sunshine Sue. When she was in her mid-teens, she was appearing with country singers including Arnold, Hank Snow, The Browns and Jim Reeves. She soon claimed she was tired of country music and began a rock and roll career.
At age 15, Martin signed with RCA Victor in March 1956, just two months after Elvis Presley joined the label. She recorded "Will You Willyum" on March 8, 1956, backed by her own composition "Drugstore Rock 'n Roll".
The song became the biggest hit of her career, selling 750,000 records. Soon Martin was performing on American Bandstand, The Today Show and Tonight Starring Steve Allen. She also appeared on Jubilee USA, and the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee, becoming one of the younger performers to ever appear. Billboard named her Most Promising Female Vocalist that year.
Drugstore Rock 'n' Roll 2:07
Will You, Willyum 1:56
Love And Kisses 2:00
My Boy Elvis 2:09
Cracker Jack 2:06
Bang Bang 1:58
Ooby Dooby 1:48
Barefoot Baby 2:22
Good Love 2:09
Little Bit 2:11
Two Long Years 2:25
All Right, Baby 1:36
Billy Boy, My Billy Boy 2:08
Let's Elope Baby 2:04
Love Me, Love 2:06
Love Me To Pieces 2:07
William 2:07
Here Today And Gone Tomorrow 2:07
Teen Street 1:53
Hard Times Ahead 2:17
Cry Guitar 2:28
Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me) 1:47
One More Year To Go 2:21
Blues Keep Calling 2:23
Please Be My Love 2:12
I Don't Hurt Anymore 2:06
Half Loved 2:10
My Confession 2:03
I'll Never Be Free 2:01
Love Me, Love (Cha Cha) 2:02
Janis Martin – The Female Elvis
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