If anyone has ever come close to being an angel, it’s Angela Martin. Not because her name is one letter shy of being the perfect angel or that she has lived a perfect life, but because she has weathered the perfect storm. The world was introduced to this Chicago native when she premiered on American Idol season 7 and returned for seasons 8 and 9. Her voice enchanted the judges, but sadly a series of unfortunate events caused distractions that lead to her elimination each season. Angela’s father was murdered by his girlfriend shortly before her first audition; she was arrested for unpaid traffic tickets which landed her in jail for 6 days the second time around; and her mother went missing her third try.
But American Idol isn’t where music started for Angela. Therefore, it won’t be her end. Angela grew up in church playing the drums never having the desire to sing or intention of singing. However, Angela’s mother and grandmother knew singing was also her God given gift and assigned the then 11 year-old Angela to sing “Lord I’m Available to You” at her aunt’s funeral. “I was so scared with my eyes closed; when I finally opened them everyone was standing,” says Angela. “I saw how I touched people and from that moment on I knew I was supposed to sing.” Music has always been the key to Angela’s ongoing song. Around the age of 18 she got her start being in front of an audience at the legendary Cotton Club. She hosted a live open mic night at A Touch of the Past for nearly 10 years. She even won over the audience, competing in amateur night at The Apollo in a girl group named Trios. Angela has worked on several projects both before and after American Idol. She recorded demos with R.Kelly as reference tracks and recorded two songs on his unreleased album “Best of Both Worlds 2” with Birdman. The unreleased album was a big upset for Angela given the time and effort she put into her part. Yet she moves forward, never skipping a beat. Continuing on her path, Angela competed in Missy Elliot’s The Road to Stardom and Chicago Idol. She performed in the Budweiser Tour with Herb Kent, opened for Lil Romeo, sang background for Lupe Fiasco, opened for El DeBarge and Goapele, appeared on Windy City Live and more.
The entertainment business isn’t for the weak. There has to be something that keeps one motivated and passionate. Angela’s daughter is her constant motivation. Her daughter is a child with special needs who, at the age of one, developed Rett Syndrome; a neurodevelopmental disorder that causes seizures. “Everything I do is for my daughter because she’s the gift God gave me,” says Angela – who’s also a spokesperson for Rett Syndrome and looks to start her “Angels for Angela” charity soon. “She can’t talk or walk but she smiles and laughs every day after having seizures; showing her strength, so who am I to give up?”
Angela’s journey has presented great opportunities with some rough terrain along the way. After her final attempt at American Idol, Angela felt her chances were few and began to fall into a deep depression. Ellen DeGeneres was even impacted by Angela’s elimination from American Idol and invited her on her show with an offer to help her find a record label, but the deal never came into play due to the terms of Angela’s contract with American Idol at the time. Angela takes it all in stride now, lives in the moment and looks ahead knowing God hasn’t given up on her. “Life is a journey within itself,” says Angela. “I can’t wait to live in my future as well as I’m living in my present and show the world you can’t let life defeat you.”
And speaking of showing, there are several sides to Angela that many have not seen. Her showmanship is that of a Renaissance woman. Like the fact that she’s a great drummer, energetic dancer, and passionate actress who got her first lead acting role in Crazy Love by Kevin Nathaniel. Angela has a long resume that currently keeps her busy working as an entertainer at corporate events and weddings. In between her busy schedule she found the time to begin writing and recording her first EP and has been titled, #MYPAIN Art imitates life, so Angela naturally wrote about her life experience. She wrote about everything between the extremes of love and pain, loss and victory and is close to signing a deal soon.
Although Angela can belt out the Blues, don’t expect an R&B album from her. Tina Turner is her idol. She loves so many genres, especially Rock and Funk and plans to make an album full of fused energy. “It’s hard to put me in a box, I just hope my album explains it and makes people feel good,” says Angela. With all of Angela’s experience, gifts and talents combined, she has a resilience that resonates as bold as her vibrato.