Danville, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Rockabilly Pioneer Janis Martin

(1940–2007)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 8, 2017

1. Rockabilly Pioneer Janis Martin Marker

Inscription. Born in Sutherlin, Rockabilly pioneer Janis Martin combined country influences with rhythm-and-blues singing, crossing musical boundaries and helping launch Rock and Roll. Singing and playing guitar, she won numerous talent contests before she was ten. Martin performed on radio for Danville’s WDVA Barn Dance and Richmond’s Old Dominion Barn Dance. She recorded for RCA Victor, 1956-1958, and cut the classic “Drugstore Rock and Roll” and Top-40 hit “Will You, Willyum.” Dubbed the “Female Elvis,” she performed on American Bandstand, the Tonight Show, the Grand Ole Opry, and then throw out Europe and the United States after the 1980s Rockabilly revival.

Erected 2010 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number U-52.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Women. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1956.

Location. 36° 33.425′ N, 79° 27.476′ W. Marker is in Danville, Virginia. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (Business U.S. 29) and Holcolm Street, on the right when traveling north on

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West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Danville VA 24541, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southside Virginia

and specifically in Central Virginia.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Pittsylvania County Confederate Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); Schoolfield School (approx. 2 miles away); Schoolfield (approx. 2 miles away); Schoolfield Welfare Building (approx. 2.1 miles away); Site of the Schoolfield Recreation Center (approx. 2.2 miles away); Garden of Peace (approx. 2.2 miles away); Ballard Pruitt Post V.F.W. 647 (approx. 2.2 miles away); In remembrance of 9/11/2001 (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Saponi Religious Beliefs Explained (was approx. 1.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Janis Martin - "Will You Willyum" (1956). Writing her first song in the age of 14, Janis Martin was a Rock'n'Roll an Rockabilly enthusiast from earliest age on. This song was sent as a demo to RCA and started her career in 1956. It reached Billboard #34. (Submitted on June 19, 2017.)

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 8, 2017

2. Rockabilly Pioneer Janis Martin Marker

2. Janis Martin - Drugstore Rock And Roll 1956. Janis Darlene Martin (March 27, 1940—September 3, 2007) was an American rockabilly and country music singer. She was one of the few women working in the male-dominated rock and roll music field during the 1950s and one of country music's early female innovators. Martin was nicknamed the Female Elvis for her dance moves on stage, similar to those of Elvis Presley. (Submitted on June 19, 2017.)

3. Wikipedia entry for Janis Martin. “The WRVA station announcer, Carl Stutz, wrote a song called ‘Will You Willyum,’ and asked Janis to sing the song live on stage that Saturday night so he could make a demo tape and send to his publisher in New York. A week after the recording, Stutz called Janis that RCA Victor was interested in recording ‘Will You Willyum.’ As it happened, the publisher offered the song to Steve Sholes, producer at RCA Victor and asked whether Sholes had an artist to record ‘Will You Willyum.’ Apparently Sholes replied, ‘Well, who’s the girl doin’ the demo?’ At age 15, Martin signed with RCA Victor in March 1956, just two months after Elvis Presley joined the label. She recorded ‘Will You Willyum’ on March 8, 1956, backed

Photographed by J. J. Prats, June 8, 2017

3. Rockabilly Pioneer Janis Martin Marker

by her own composition, ‘Drugstore Rock 'n Roll.’ ” (Submitted on June 19, 2017.)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 19, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,167 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 19, 2017, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.