Billie Ray Martin
| Billie Ray Martin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Birgit Dieckmann |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | 1970 Hamburg, West Germany |
| Origin | West Berlin, Allied-occupied German Democratic Republic |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | Vocalist |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | |
| Website | BillieRayMartin |
Billie Ray Martin (born 1970) is a West German singer-songwriter.
Born in Hamburg, West Germany, she grew up near Reeperbahn, St. Pauli, in the city's red-light district. She lived with her working-class grandparents, who bombarded her with Elvis Presley and German schlager music.
In the early 1980s, Billie Ray Martin moved to Berlin. It was the time of electronic bands like Cabaret Voltaire, Throbbing Gristle and the early Human League, shaping Martin's conceptions of music. Simultaneously, she encountered the soul music of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Aretha Franklin and the Motown revival. In Berlin, she formed an eleven piece soul and sixties inspired band called Billie and the Deep. Their live shows became very popular in Berlin in 1985–86.
After these experiences, Billie Ray Martin moved to London, where she placed an ad in Melody Maker reading "soul rebel seeks musical genius". The ad led to a meeting with four men from Birmingham who had been looking for a voice to add to their music, resulting in the formation of Electribe 101. The band returned to Birmingham, where they recorded their first song, entitled "Talking With Myself", releasing it as a 12" single on their own Hipnotic label. It was noticed by manager Tom Watkins (who managed Pet Shop Boys, Bros and East 17). Electribe 101 signed with Watkins, and his label Phonogram Records.
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