Matt Hewson
Award-winning musician Leslie Martin has been performing since before she can remember.
With both parents working in vaudeville with the likes of Lucky Grills, Bobby Limb and Dawn Lake, she was exposed to performers constantly.
“When you’re a kid you take things in, and I began to sing,” Martin said.
“At two and a half I sang Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing, word for word they say. So I guess that was the beginning.
“I always wanted to go there. Kids play games, dollies and all those things; my games were singing games.”
Once she reached adulthood, Martin, also an accomplished guitar, slide guitar and piano player, joined the festival and club circuit.
But for a ten-year hiatus spent raising her children, she has spent her life moving others with her music, with her husband Terry acting as both her sound engineer and roadie.
Now with decades of performing experience behind her, Martin brings her show Queens of Country Music to the Potato Shed.
Martin’s show celebrates the life and music of two of country music’s most iconic female artists, Patsy Cline and Dolly Parton.
She said both music of both women continued to resonate with people because of their authenticity.
“Dolly is unique; she didn’t go and copy somebody, she’s herself,” she said.
“She sings songs that have meaning. She doesn’t just sing a whole lot of nothing, a whole lot of noise, there’s always a story behind it and those stories are very important to people. They’re very truthful and heartfelt.
“Patsy was really unique too, and she did it the hard way. She didn’t just get out there and all of a sudden she was a star. She had a pretty tragic life but her songs were just so meaningful too.”
Leslie Martin performs Queens of Country Music at the Potato Shed at 9pm on Saturday, August 3. Book at potatoshed.com.au or call 5251 1988.
