Martina McBride Biography

Martina McBride (born Martina Mariea Schiff, July 29, 1966 in Sharon, Kansas) is an American country-pop music singer-songwriter. She made her debut in 1992 with the release of her album The Time Has Come; however, it was not until the release of her second album, The Way That I Am, that she first had a major hit with "My Baby Loves Me", which peaked at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts.

She rose to stardom in the late `90s, starting out with a more traditionalist approach and moving into pop-friendlier territory. [1]

Between 1992 and the present, Martina has recorded a total of ten albums: seven studio albums, a Greatest Hits package, a compilation of covers, and an album of Christmas music. Of these ten albums, two are certified gold, and seven are certified platinum or higher. To date, she has also charted more than thirty singles on the U.S. country singles charts. Her biggest hit to date has been "I Love You", which spent five weeks at Number One in 1999. In all, Martina has scored six Number One singles: five on the U.S. Billboard country charts, and one on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts. In addition, Martina has won the Country Music Association`s "Female Vocalist of the Year" four times (tied with Reba McEntire for the most wins), and the Academy of Country Music`s "Top Female Vocalist" award three times.

According to those who know her songs and her voice, she has been called "Celine Dion of Country Music" on account of her soprano vocals.

Life and music career
Early life & rise to success
Martina was born in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, where her parents, Daryl and Jeanne Schiff, owned a dairy farm. She is the third of four children. McBride`s three syblings are an older brother, Steve, a younger sister, Gina, and a younger brother Martin. Martin, called Marty, plays in her band.

She gravitated toward music, partly because of an innate ability to sing and partly because she knew it would get the attention of her father, who fronted a local band called, The Schiffters. In fact, she did such a good job of catching her father`s eye that he put her to work at age seven singing a few songs with the band. The band rehearsed every week in the family’s house. When she was seven and little brother Marty was five, they joined the group. Her role gradually increased each year, and by the time she reached high school, she was an accomplished keyboard player and was singing on almost every song the band performed.

By her teen years, she was singing and playing keyboards with the Schiffters playing small gigs at weddings, dances, VFW halls, and American Legion posts. Her mother Jeanne ran the soundboard. Her father Daryl led the band, played guitar and sang. Martina played keyboards and sang. Her brother Marty played guitar and steel. Martina played with the band every Saturday night until she graduated from high school. After high school she gigged around Kansas with several different bands, one of which was Don Overstake`s Wichita-based band, Lotus. Her small-town upbringing was highlighted by her high school graduating class only having nine other students.

Purple envelope story
The "Purple Envelope Story" is the story behind McBride`s first record deal. McBride had heard that RCA Records was looking for a new female artist to add to their company. The McBrides knew that RCA didn`t take unsolicited mail and neither had contacts there. In a big purp
 

Comments

 
Flag as Inappropriate
 
posted by Brynn
I love Martina McBride! She is my favorite singer ever! She has an amazing voice and has done so many great songs.
posted 162 days ago

 

Continue the Conversation

 

Trivia

 

Top Contributors

Top editors for this profile:
Who's Dated Who content is contributed and edited by our readers. Please report errors or omissions on this page.
 

Related Links

  • Do you have a Martina McBride Fansite?
  • Exchange links with this page.
 

Related Profiles