MY LATE FRIEND JANIS MARTIN

I had the great pleasure in knowing Ms. Janis Martin. For those of you who may not be familiar
with her name, she was a RCA Victor recording artist of the 50's and proudly held the title of
'Female Elvis'. In the early 70's, I decided to track down this icon and see what she was up to.
With some information written on a note pad, I decided to call the Danville Virginia police department
and give them my sketchy info and see if they would know who I was talking about.

I call there around 7:30 pm and a very nice voice comes on the phone identifying the receiver
as 'Danville Police, may I help you?'. I immediately explain that it was not an emergency but that
i was seeking information on a local celebrity. I'm told to go ahead with my request and I start out
with, 'would you know a Janis Martin who recorded for RCA in the 50's?". Answer: "I'm Janis".

Phone silence. All these years of gathering questions went out the window. At that moment, I didn't
know my own name. But that is how it all started. We became good friends, I invited her to my home
and had her appear on a local television show, we made our rounds to other media and with her help,
I put together a story. I submitted it to 'GOLDMINE" magazine and they published it on the spot.
Within months, inquiries were coming in from all round the globe. Europe wanted her to appear
and those states where RCA had decided to release her music started inquiring how they could
interview or meet and greet her.

Thirty years go by and one day the phone rings. Janis is terminally ill with cancer. Not only is she
sick, but time is short. I can't make it because of a recent heart operation. I want to see her one more
time, but that won't be the case. In September of 2008, she joins her one and only son who had
passed away the previous January. And to make things even worse, her Mom would join them the
following January. Within months, 3 good friends were gone but I can't look at it that way. I must
rely on my memories and good times and the little bit I did to get her the recognition she so deserved.

Today she is in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and has thousands of fans and friends worldwide. She is
no longer the PD operator using her married name Janis Parton. She leaves us as Janis Martin, the
female Elvis of the 50's and one of the best rockabilly singers to come along.

Goodnight my friend.