by Scott Turner

A Legend In Her Time

Firstly, I would like to thank "our leader" Sandy Serge for the great piece she printed on the late Martha Carson. Personally, Martha had a great effect on my life. In the mid-50's, when I was playing hockey in Montreal, we had a break between practice and a road trip, and I noticed a marquee on a theater across from the area that said, "Today - Appearing In Person, Stars of the Grand Ole Opry - Roy Acuff, Martha Carson and Other Great Acts." I decided to go to the show and I recall that it cost 50 cents. Once the show started, I was really taken aback and I said to myself, "I'd love to do that someday." As it turned out, my group and I (The Raiders) kind of backed into the business as we ended up being Tommy Sands' band. Tommy had just done a live national TV show titled "The Singing Idol" which was to later become a motion picture titled "Sing Boy Sing" and the opening song was Martha's "I Want To Walk and Talk with My Lord". Elvis was also a big fan of Martha's as he opened many shows for her and recorded quite a few of her songs.

Later on in life, while I was producing Rosemary Clooney, we went out to Martha's home as both artists were native Kentuckians. I became a good friend of Martha's husband (and Chet Atkins' manager) Xavier (or "X" as we called him) Cosse. Not long after that time, X passed away and Martha asked me to help her with her music career..and there I was, on the Opry Stage, playing guitar for the person who inspired me to get into this business. I also had the honor of producing Martha's very last album project.

In closing, it burns both myself and a host of other Opry acts that the "First Lady of Gospel Music" isn't in the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Shame on you!!