Derek Martin

Derek Martin was born in Detroit in 1938, and like many early R&B and soul singers, he got his start in gospel. His professional break came early when he was hired at the age of 17 to sing with Duke Ellington. In the early '50s Martin joined the singing group the Pearls along with fellow singer Howard Guyton and pianist Dave Clowney (who would find success in 1959 with the novelty hit "The Happy Organ" as Dave "Baby" Cortez), and the group released its first single (as the Five Pearls) in 1954 and also recorded as Howie & the Sapphires, releasing a single under that name in 19...