Scottish Singer and TV Host Lena Martell Dies at 86
Lena Martell, a Scottish singer and Broadway star, passed away at the age of 86 in a care facility following a brief illness. Originally named Helen Thomson and hailing from Glasgow, she made history as the first solo female Scottish artist to reach the top of the UK singles chart with her 1979 rendition of "One Day at a Time," which sold close to three million copies and maintained its number one position for three weeks. From 1974 to 1980, she released six albums that charted in the UK. Martell began her singing career in childhood, appeared on "Find the Singer," and served as an understudy for Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl." She also hosted a BBC show for ten years, attracting over 12 million viewers weekly, while battling health challenges throughout her life. Barbara Dickson honored her memory.
Key facts
- Lena Martell died at age 86 after a short illness in a care home.
- She was born Helen Thomson in Glasgow.
- Her cover of "One Day at a Time" topped the UK singles chart for three weeks in October 1979.
- The single sold almost three million copies and spent 36 weeks on the chart, earning a Guinness World Record.
- She placed six albums on the UK albums chart between 1974 and 1980, four in the top 20.
- She hosted her own BBC prime-time TV show for about a decade in the 1970s.
- She understudied Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl" on Broadway.
- She performed alongside Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Barbra Streisand.
Entities
Artists
- Lena Martell
- Helen Thomson
- Frank Sinatra
- Sammy Davis Jr.
- Barbra Streisand
- Barbara Dickson
- Marijohn Wilkin
- Kris Kristofferson
Institutions
- BBC
- ITV
- Pye record label
- Barrowland Ballroom
- Pavilion Theatre
- Top of the Pops
- Guinness Book of World Records
- Jimmie McGregor Band
Locations
- Glasgow
- Scotland
- New York
- Las Vegas
- United States
- United Kingdom