Age, Biography and Wiki

Linda Martell (Thelma Bynem) was born on 4 June, 1941 in Leesville, South Carolina, U.S., is an American country and R&B music artist. Discover Linda Martell's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Learn How rich is she in this year and how she spends money? Also learn how she earned most of networth at the age of 82 years old?

Popular As Thelma Bynem
Occupation Singer · bus driver · teaching assistant
Age 82 years old
Zodiac Sign Gemini
Born 4 June, 1941
Birthday 4 June
Birthplace Leesville, South Carolina, U.S.
Nationality United States

We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 4 June. She is a member of famous artist with the age 82 years old group.

Linda Martell Height, Weight & Measurements

At 82 years old, Linda Martell height not available right now. We will update Linda Martell's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible.

Physical Status
Height Not Available
Weight Not Available
Body Measurements Not Available
Eye Color Not Available
Hair Color Not Available

Dating & Relationship status

She is currently single. She is not dating anyone. We don't have much information about She's past relationship and any previous engaged. According to our Database, She has no children.

Family
Parents Not Available
Husband Not Available
Sibling Not Available
Children Not Available

Linda Martell Net Worth

Her net worth has been growing significantly in 2023-2024. So, how much is Linda Martell worth at the age of 82 years old? Linda Martell’s income source is mostly from being a successful artist. She is from United States. We have estimated Linda Martell's net worth, money, salary, income, and assets.

Net Worth in 2024 $1 Million - $5 Million
Salary in 2024 Under Review
Net Worth in 2023 Pending
Salary in 2023 Under Review
House Not Available
Cars Not Available
Source of Income artist

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Timeline

1941

Linda Martell (born Thelma Bynem; June 4, 1941) is an American singer.

She became the first commercially successful black female artist in the country music field and the first to play the Grand Ole Opry.

As one of the first African-American country performers, Martell helped influence the careers of future Nashville artists of color.

Born and raised in South Carolina, Martell listened to country, gospel and R&B music.

In her teens, she formed a singing trio with her family titled Linda Martell and the Anglos.

Thelma Bynem was born June 4, 1941 as one of five children born to Clarence and Willie May Bynem in Leesville, South Carolina.

Her father was a sharecropper while her mother worked many hours at a chicken slaughterhouse.

To avoid helping with sharecropping duties, Martell learned to make dinners for her family when she was seven years old.

Her father was also a preacher, which inspired her earliest music.

She sang gospel music at church and was also drawn to country music.

Clarence Bynem regularly listened to the country music of Hank Williams on WLAC, based out of Nashville, Tennessee.

1960

During the 1960s, the group recorded a handful of R&B singles and sang alongside other black performers.

However, the group had little success and soon parted ways.

Performing as a solo act, Martell was discovered singing country music on an air force base.

1962

In 1962, The Anglos took an eight-hour bus ride to Muscle Shoals, Alabama where they recorded their first R&B single.

Re-named Linda Martell and the Anglos, Fire Records released "A Little Tear (Was Falling from My Eyes)" the same year.

The single was unsuccessful.

The group performed regularly.

They also sang backup vocals for R&B performers, such as The Drifters and Jimmy Hughes.

Linda Martell and the Anglos (sometimes credited as "The Angelos") released several more singles on the Vee-Jay label, such as "Lonely Hours".

David Browne of Rolling Stone called the song "simmering, forlorn girl-group pop".

The group parted ways after her cousin got married.

Her sister left the group soon after and Martell was a solo act for the first time in her career.

For several years, she continued singing R&B music.

While singing on a South Carolina air force base, Martell was heard singing country songs by Nashville furniture salesman William "Duke" Rayner.

1969

This led to an introduction to producer Shelby Singleton, who signed her to his Nashville label in 1969.

The same year, the label released her country cover of "Color Him Father".

1970

The song became a charting single on the Billboard charts and her debut album followed in 1970.

Martell made several appearances on country music television programs and released two more singles with Plantation.

She also made her first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry during this time.

She later performed there 12 times.

Following a series of business conflicts with her manager (Duke Raymer) and producer, Martell left her recording contract.

1974

She then retired from the country music industry in 1974 following a lack of success.

Over the next several decades, she lived in various states and continued performing music.

1990

To make a living, she worked in public education and returned to South Carolina in the 1990s.

1998

"Until we got into our teens we knew country music and that was it," she told the Courier-Post in 1998.

Martell, her sister and cousin then formed a singing trio, which they called The Anglos.

The group performed R&B music and sang in areas around Columbia, South Carolina.

Local DJ, Charles "Big Saul" Greene convinced her to change her name from Thelma Bynem to Linda Martell.

"Your name is Linda Martell. You look like Linda. That fits you," Greene told her.