Linda Martell Touched Many Hearts With Her Cover of “Color Him Father”

In July 1969, Linda Martell released her version of “Color Him Father” as the debut single of her country music career. Her rendition captivated audiences, earning positive reviews. 

It even peaked at No. 22 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, where it spent a total of ten weeks. The single became Martell’s highest-peaking track on the chart. The success also made Martell the first Black female artist to chart on the Billboard Country charts.

In 1970, Martell released “Color Him Father” on her album Color Me Country – the only album released in Martell’s music career.

The Meaning Behind The Song 

Written by Richard Lewis Spencer, “Color Him Father” is a heartwarming tale of a devoted stepfather. This resilient man takes on the responsibility of caring for a woman and her seven children, stepping in after her husband tragically loses his life in combat.

The song was originally recorded by the rhythm and blues group the Winstons in 1969 and was a No.7 hit on the Billboard Hot 100.

According to Rolling Stone, Linda Martell signed a one-year record deal with producer Shelby Singleton in 1969, as well. After that, Singleton brought together Martell and a group of session musicians in one of his recording studios. There, he played the original rendition of “Color Him Father” with everyone and then asked Martell to perform the song.

Martell gave it a try, but Singleton wasn’t satisfied. Martell remembered Singleton telling her, “Put your voice on there. I don’t want to hear the Winstons. I want to hear you.” That’s exactly what she did.

She approached the song with a blend of country and R&B influences, highlighting an important aspect – and that’s deeply connecting with the story it conveyed.

Well, take a moment to immerse yourself in a soulful journey. Play the video below and engage yourself in the touching narrative through the melodic storytelling of Linda Martell in “Color Him Father.”