http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/may/22/abilene-native-and-western-swing-hall-of-famer/

Abilene native and Western swing hall of famer performs tonight

Carolyn Martin's road to the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame began at Abilene's Ponderosa Ballroom.

It was there that she fell in love, not just with the songs themselves but with the sound and feel of Western swing music, with its high-stepping spirit and frontier charm.

"I loved the steel guitar, the sound of twin fiddles, the vocal style, the beat," Martin said. "It's happy music. It makes you want to get up and move."

Martin is returning to her hometown for a 7 p.m. concert tonight at Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 1741 Sayles Blvd.

She graduated from Cooper High School in 1975 — her husband and musical collaborator, Dave, was an Abilene High grad. Martin sang around Abilene for a few years before moving to Nashville.

Success and recognition didn't come immediately, but her last two albums — 2010's "Cookin' with Carolyn" and 2007's "Swing" — won her accolades from both the Academy of Western Artists and the Western Music Association. She was inducted into the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame last year.

Since her initial love affair with Western swing, Martin has become a student of the genre. Her performances pay homage to the classic swing groups of the '30s, '40s and '50s, while also drawing inspiration from big band jazz and Broadway show tunes.

Martin's other projects have included performing as a member of the Grammy-nominated country group Time Jumpers, as well as a recent stint paying tribute to Patsy Cline on the "Country Royalty" tour.

A suggested $10 love offering will be accepted for Martin's performance tonight.

To hear selections from the easygoing "Cookin' with Carolyn" album and learn more about Martin's career, visit www.carolynmartinmusic.com.