Judy Martin (singer)
| Judy Martin | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Eva Alaine Overstake |
| Also known as | Eva Foley |
| Born |
July 23, 1917 Decatur, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | 17 November 1951 (aged 34) Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1931-1951 |
| Labels | Cattle, M.M. Cole, Vocalion |
| Associated acts | Three Little Maids, Mountain Rangers, Red Foley, The Cumberland Valley Boys |
Eva Alaine Overstake ( July 23, 1917 - November 17, 1951), professionally known as Judy Martin, was an American country music singer, performing from the early 30's to the late 40's on the WLS-AM's National Barn Dance in Chicago. She was the second wife of Country Music Hall of Fame member Red Foley and is the grandmother of Christian country music singer Debby Boone.
Overstake was born in Decatur, IL, the third of six children of Herschel Jewel Overstake (1894-1936) and Helen Elizabeth Nalefski (1897-1988). When Eva was 12 years old her father arranged for her and her two older sisters, Evelyn and Lucille to sing three-part harmonies for The Salvation Army on street corners in Decatur. Before long the Overstake sisters were performing on local radio stations WJBL, WDZ and WTAX.
In the fall of 1931 Herschel Overstake took his three daughters to Chicago to audition for radio station WLS. The program director was so impressed with their performance in the audition he immediately scheduled them for a guest appearance the following Saturday on the WLS National Barn Dance. The girls were an immediate hit with the WLS listeners and they were hired for regular Saturday night appearances on the show to begin in January 1932.
WLS station management renamed them the Three Little Maids and they were on their way to fame and fortune.
By the time of the audition, the oldest sister, Evelyn, then 17, was married and had a child. Lucille was one year younger and Eva was just 14. Herschel Overstake moved his wife and children to Chicago and became their manager. The girls continued to perform and record their music and became acquainted with other regular WLS performers such as Gene Autry, George Gobel, The Hoosier Hot Shots, Red Foley, and others.
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