Marilyn Martin

Who is Marilyn Martin?

Marilyn Martin is an American singer best known for her 1985 hit duet with Phil Collins, "Separate Lives."

Born in Tennessee but raised in Louisville, Kentucky, Martin gained notice as a back-up singer for such artists as Stevie Nicks, Joe Walsh, Don Henley, Tom Petty and Kenny Loggins, touring with Nicks and Walsh. She became a protegee of Doug Morris, then the head of Atlantic Records, who had heard her backing up Nicks on the Rock a Little album and was impressed enough to ask for a demo. She recorded the Stevie Nicks song "Sorcerer" for the Jim Steinman soundtrack of the 1984 film Streets of Fire. Morris signed Martin to a two album contract and connected her with Phil Collins for "Separate Lives," part of the soundtrack for the 1985 film White Nights. The song was a number one hit in the U.S. and a Top 5 hit in the United Kingdom. Her self-titled debut album was released in January 1986, reaching number 72 on the Billboard 200, with the single "Night Moves" reaching number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. Two other singles were also released from the album, "Body and the Beat" and "Move Closer," but neither made the charts.