Martha High

Martha High (born Martha Harvin, Washington, D.C.) is an American female vocalist.

Harvin grew up in Washington, D.C., attending Roosevelt High School and singing in Trinity AME Zion Church. She began singing in The Four Jewels (whose members attended the same church and school) after the departure of Carrie Mingo. After Martha joined the group, they changed their name simply to The Jewels and released their best-known hit, "Opportunity". After a follow-up single, "But I Do" b/w "Smokey Joe", flopped, they were dropped from Dimension Records.

The Jewels went on tour with James Brown in 1964, with a demanding nightly schedule. They visited the studios of Motown Records on the Detroit leg of the tour, hoping to record, but the building was closed that day. They did record two singles while they toured with Brown, but after 1½ years with Brown the group split up. Harvin adopted the stage name Martha High and continued singing with Brown for the next thirty-plus years. Among her appearances with Brown are on the track "Summertime" and on the Original Funky Divas album.

High also recorded a self-titled disco album in 1979, released on Salsoul Records. In 1995, she stopped performing with Brown and went on tour with Maceo Parker.

In 2004, High teamed up with the Soulpower organization, which is also behind the comebacks of Soul artists like Marva Whitney, Lyn Collins, Bobby Byrd, Gwen McCrae and RAMP. During her collaboration with Soulpower, High performed all across Europe and even performed in Africa, backed by the Soulpower Allstars. In February 2005, High embarked on the "James Brown's Funky Divas Tour" in Europe, sharing the stage with her friend Lyn Collins.

References

• Martha High at Allmusic

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