Born Thelma Bynem, Martell grew up in South Carolina and first tried to make it as an R&B performer in a trio with her sister and cousin, billed as Linda Martell & the Anglos, before switching to country after a Nashville furniture store owner, William “Duke” Rayner,” saw her singing on an Air Force base and convinced her to come to...
, released Friday , the superstar salutes pioneering country artist Linda Martell, the first Black woman to ever play the Grand Ole Opry in 1969, and, in doing so, is introducing the pioneer to a whole new audience.
Though she has long retired, the 82-year-old Martell returns on Beyoncé’s album on two segments, both of which address Beyoncé’s refusal to be bound by genre lines. In the introduction to “Spaghettii,” she says, “Genres are a funny little concept, aren’t they? Yes they are. In theory, they have a simple definition that’s easy to understand, but in practice, well, some may feel confined.”
Martell returns on the 28-second interlude titled “The Linda Martell Show,” opening with “Thank you very much,” to the sound of applause. She continues, “This particular tune stretches across a range of genres and that’s what makes it’s a unique listening experience. Yes, indeed. It’s called ‘Ya Ya,’” she says before the genre-bending “Ya Ya” opens to a sample of Nancy Sinatra’s 1966 classic, “These Boots Are Made For Walkin.
For many listeners, this is likely the first time they have heard of Martell, who played such a groundbreaking role in country music. Her breakthrough single, “Color Him Father,” peaked at No. 22 in September 1969. The song was the highest-charting song on the tally by a Black woman for more than 50 years until Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em” reached No. 1 earlier this year.. “I am proud that @beyonce is exploring her country music roots.
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