Lena Martell, the first Scottish female solo artist to get a Number One single with One Day at a Time and sold 20million records, dies at 86
Lena Martell, the legendary Scottish singer who became the first female solo artist from Scotland to achieve a Number One single with "One Day at a Time", has died aged 86. A defining figure in Scottish entertainment for decades, she was renowned for her distinctive Glasgow accent, her Broadway career and her hosting of a hugely popular BBC Saturday night show that attracted over 11 million viewers.
Born Helena Thomson in 1940, Martell won the UK's first televised talent show as a teenager and built a remarkable career spanning Broadway, Las Vegas and international performances, performing alongside Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. Her 1979 cover of "One Day at a Time" sold 20 million records throughout her career and became her signature song, though poor management deals later deprived her of significant royalties. Despite considerable personal hardship—including cancer, caring for her mother with Alzheimer's disease, bankruptcy in the early 1990s, and major heart surgery in 2008—she maintained her quiet dignity and humility until her peaceful death in care.
- Lena Martell, first Scottish female solo artist to reach Number One, dies at 86.
- Chart-topper One Day at a Time sold 20 million records but poor deals cost her royalties.
- Despite Broadway success and TV stardom, she faced cancer, bankruptcy and major health challenges.
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Lena Martell was a Scottish singer who achieved considerable success across several decades, becoming the first female solo artist from Scotland to reach Number One on the UK charts. Her 1979 cover of "One Day at a Time" became her signature song and sold 20 million records, establishing her as a significant figure in British music history.
Martell built a remarkable entertainment career spanning Broadway and Las Vegas, where she performed alongside legendary American performers including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. As a teenager, she won the UK's first televised talent competition, which launched her career in show business, and she later hosted a hugely popular BBC Saturday night programme that attracted millions of viewers.
Born Helena Thomson in 1940, Martell remained a prominent cultural figure in Scotland, known for her distinctive Glasgow accent. Her success as an international performer came at a time when female artists, and particularly those from Scotland, rarely achieved such widespread recognition.