I read somewhere that she actually assisted a surgeon during an operation, in Vietnam, not too far away from the fighting. What a gutsy lady, and what a voice.
I have an LP she recorded with Carol Burnett - if I ever become able to figure out how to tranfer it, I'll post it. Both she and Carol were/are great singers.
I got to tour with Maggie when she did Everybody Loves Opel. She was the best. Someone asked her why she hired a 35 year old to play an old doctor in the play. She replied: "RJ can do a triple take... and he drinks Jack Daniels." Thanks Maggie, it was quite a ride!
I met Martha Raye while she was performing with "The Four Girls Four" at The Claridge Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City in 1982. She was an incredibly nice lady...and absolutely HYSTERICAL!! I was a young musician(20 years old)at the time and she always took time to talk with me every single night before and after the shows. She was one of a kind. Thank you for posting the video.
Great clip! Mel Torme called Martha Raye the most underrated singer in show business. She was such a great comic actress that her vocal talents were ignored!
Mel was right! And Martha could handle ballads beautifully also. And I think she was gorgeous, big mouth and all. Didn't all the girl stars starting in the 40s start to paint their mouths to look bigger? Now, of course, they've reached epic proportions.
I've wanted to see a clip from this show for years! That song is from the 1940 Broadway show "HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS" which Martha appeared in with Al Jolson (his last Broadway show). Better to see a brief clip than nothing at all :) Thanks so much!!
Too short indeed! I figured it was better to post what I had rather than have it rot in the vault. When I found the tape I had forgotten, after 25 years, that The New Four Girl's manager had demanded that we not record more than a minute. He even threatened to pull the show! The video it was shot for was never made and this clip nearly met the fate of the dumpster.
I agree - many people today only remember Martha for her comedic talent, but boy did she have a set of pipes! One of my favorite singers of all time. We miss you, Martha.
I read somewhere that she actually assisted a surgeon during an operation, in Vietnam, not too far away from the fighting. What a gutsy lady, and what a voice.
sauroid1 3 months ago
I heard in her prime she was a great, great singer!
grenadian11 1 year ago
Such a great singer.
ocnoreen 1 year ago
God Bless Miss Raye -- the inspiration for Bette Midler's "For The Boys".
tallpaul521 1 year ago
I loved Martha Raye. I agree, she was grossly underrated in all areas of talent.
100Meadows 1 year ago
I have an LP she recorded with Carol Burnett - if I ever become able to figure out how to tranfer it, I'll post it. Both she and Carol were/are great singers.
downey5558 1 year ago
Even in her old age, Martha still felt young inside. God bless her! And she never lost that sense of humor. RIP Martha Raye.
4262009AP 2 years ago
I got to tour with Maggie when she did Everybody Loves Opel. She was the best. Someone asked her why she hired a 35 year old to play an old doctor in the play. She replied: "RJ can do a triple take... and he drinks Jack Daniels." Thanks Maggie, it was quite a ride!
NewzGuy 2 years ago
great seeing this. Wish you could put on the medley she and Judy Garland did on JG"s show...it is very funny.
tsmithers 3 years ago
I met Martha Raye while she was performing with "The Four Girls Four" at The Claridge Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City in 1982. She was an incredibly nice lady...and absolutely HYSTERICAL!! I was a young musician(20 years old)at the time and she always took time to talk with me every single night before and after the shows. She was one of a kind. Thank you for posting the video.
hckydad 3 years ago
Great clip! Mel Torme called Martha Raye the most underrated singer in show business. She was such a great comic actress that her vocal talents were ignored!
onlyhuman41 4 years ago 6
Mel was right! And Martha could handle ballads beautifully also. And I think she was gorgeous, big mouth and all. Didn't all the girl stars starting in the 40s start to paint their mouths to look bigger? Now, of course, they've reached epic proportions.
defundthewar 2 years ago
I've wanted to see a clip from this show for years! That song is from the 1940 Broadway show "HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS" which Martha appeared in with Al Jolson (his last Broadway show). Better to see a brief clip than nothing at all :) Thanks so much!!
madman37115 4 years ago
I think it was actually called Four Girls Four
Shangobunni 4 years ago
When this was recorded in 1982, Martha and her co-stars were definately touring as The New Four Girls. Four Gilrls Four was a few years before.
QuickieNirvana 4 years ago
I guess nothing else exists from this show? What a shame - she was really swinging!
britcomic 4 years ago 2
Too short! She was sensational - one of the most under-rated singers of her era
britcomic 4 years ago 3
Too short indeed! I figured it was better to post what I had rather than have it rot in the vault. When I found the tape I had forgotten, after 25 years, that The New Four Girl's manager had demanded that we not record more than a minute. He even threatened to pull the show! The video it was shot for was never made and this clip nearly met the fate of the dumpster.
QuickieNirvana 4 years ago
@britcomic
I agree - many people today only remember Martha for her comedic talent, but boy did she have a set of pipes! One of my favorite singers of all time. We miss you, Martha.
snailysaurus 1 year ago