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It all started with a humble beginning in a little community in Arkansas. Joyce, Jonathan, and Judy started singing at a very young age. Judy says around the age of seven her mother started teaching them how to sing together. She taught them a harmony part separately, and the three kids would all get together and even then it sounded fantastic. The church they went to was a little country church and if someone had a song to sing, they could sing it. The Martin kids got plenty of opportunity to show their wares. Judy recalls that most of the people singing would have to have the words or music in front of them, but thoe Martin kids had all the words memorized. It was easy back then, and Judy sure wishes she had those memory capabilities now. Judy said that her mother used to make their dresses, and her mother still has some of them. Now that sounds like some Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame items to me.

Jonathan and Joyce were always focused on what they wanted to do musically, but Judy wanted to do some of the things that other kids were doing, so it wasn’t until she was about 13 or 14 that she really began to get interested in singing herself. About this time Jonathan took a two week trip with the Mid South Boys and he was hooked. Judy said that Larry Rutledge and all the Mid South Boys were a large influence on all of the Martins. In fact at the passing of Larry Rutledge, Joyce wrote one of her first songs, “Look For The Rainbows” for him. The Martins eventually recorded that song.

I asked Judy about their first big break. It seems that the Mid South Boys urged these three talented kids to enter a talent contest put on by the Dixie Echoes as part of “Dale Shelnut Day.” Sure enough, the Martins entered and WON that contest. The prize was the entry fee into the talent contest at the National Quartet Convention. So, their daddy packed them all up in the car and they headed for the NQC. Though they didn’t win the talent contest (can you even imagine the Martins NOT winning a talent contest?), they were bit by the singing bug and the rest is history. A few years later they had their own booth at the NQC. Though it would still be several years before this phenomenal group would appear on the NQC stage.

The next break came when they were setting up their first booth at NQC. The three of them started singing, and the lady in the next booth, turned off her vacuum cleaner just to listen to the harmonies that these three were singing so effortlessly. From there this nice lady took them around to different booths for other people to hear them. From there, Eddie Howard from Mark V Records went all the way to Arkansas to get them to record on his label.

A year or two later, again at their booth at the National Quartet Convention, the Martins realized that they were ready to go to another level. Being the good mother that she is, Mrs. Martin saw Mark Lowry walking down the aisle, so she stopped him and gave him one of their CDs. Mark had Bill Gaither listen to it, and somehow Michael English also listened to it. Michael was so impressed with this brilliant young group that he flew them in for one of the Gaither Homecoming tapings. While they were waiting to meet Bill, Mark told them to practice “He Leadeth Me” a capella, something they had never done before. There was no place to go, so they were rehearsing in the hallway. About this time, Michael came by, and about the same time Gloria Gaither also came by, so Michael and Mark took Gloria, the Martins and a well known promoter into the Ladies Restroom, where they sang the song just for Gloria. Gloria was so impressed that she told Bill that he NEEDED to hear this group. Imagine how shocked they were when Bill called them up in front of the whole Homecoming gang, and they auditioned for Bill Gaither with the tape rolling. Not only that, but, that version of “He Leadeth Me,” which is now so popular, was unplanned and the first time they had ever performed it without music. Now that is phenomenal. From that time the Martins have been one of the biggest drawing groups in not just Southern Gospel, but in Gospel Music altogether.

Now at the height of their popularity, the Martins decided to take a sabbatical from singing as a group. What would cause a group so popular to walk away from what was so successful, even for a short while? Judy responded to that question without any hesitation. Judy feels that every family has to work out their own situations, but they felt that they had reached a point in their lives that their children needed more of their time. Now, they are all spending more quality time with their children as well as having an easier time balancing traveling singing and giving attention to their children.

I had to ask Judy what the difference is between singing solo and singing with her group. Judy says that there is a definite stretching of her vocal abilities, because she has always preferred to be more in the background, and when she is singing solo there is a lot more pressure on her to perform and carry the whole show.

Her solo ministry has also allowed her to testify about the depression she has gone through. Judy has had to deal with bouts of depression that would put her out of commission for days at a time. She has found encouragement and great help in dealing with her depression while ministering to others who are going through depression also. People seem to be amazed that someone of such prominence as Judy Martin Hess would be going through the same type of depression that they face. One of Judy’s loves is ministering in women’s conferences and being able to witness to others of her victories over depression, of how far she has come, and how God is using her to help others going through the same thing.

Judy says that going solo is not an easy thing to do after singing with her family for so long. She really misses the harmony and finds it more difficult to stay disciplined vocally, but now she gets to eat anyplace she wants. Of course the natural question is, “Will the Martins ever sing together again?” Judy says that she feels that she is in the Lord’s will and where she should be right now, however every time her and Joyce and Jonathan get together, the subject comes up. So, the answer is, at this moment they are not getting back together, but it certainly isn’t out of the question in the future.

I have seen Judy in her solo performances, so if you get a chance to see this lovely Christian lady sing and minister in your area, by all means take the time to do so. Judy is scheduled to perform Saturday, July 30, 2005 at the 6th Annual Gospel Music Fan Festival.

Visit Judy's website: http://www.judymartinhess.com

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