Lena Martell (born Helen Thomson; 15 May 1940 – 5 October 2026) was a Scottish singer, with a long career in theatre, television and musicals. She recorded thirty albums which include the number-one UK single with "One Day at a Time" in 1979.

Biography Martell was born on 15 May 1940 and raised in Hamiltonhill, Glasgow. She began singing at the age of 11 with her eldest brother's band. She became a singer for the Jimmie McGregor Band at the Barrowland Ballroom, in Glasgow. After his untimely death, she decided to pursue a career in music as a tribute. She released a number of standards in the 1970s on the Pye record label, drew crowds at cabarets and concert halls and became a major recording star with silver, gold and platinum awards. Much of her work took place aboard many cruise ships accompanied by her new 5 star pianist George Paxton of Saltcoats, Scotland. Her cover of the song "One Day at a Time", written by Marijohn Wilkin and Kris Kristofferson, reached the top of the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in October 1979. She placed six albums in the UK Albums Chart between 1974 and 1980, including four that reached the top 20.

In the 1970s and 1980s her Saturday Night TV shows for BBC Television ran over a period of ten years, with evening audiences of over 12 million. Moving to the U.S. she sang in New York and Las Vegas with Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and others and toured the world performing in concert halls. She starred in musicals on Broadway, first when understudying for Barbra Streisand, and headlining in London`s West End theatres. Her successes at London Palladium equalled that of the box office of Shirley MacLaine and Bette Midler.

Although out of the limelight for a period while nursing her sick mother, eventually Martell returned to the music industry. She released a few albums on the ScotDisc label. Her double album One Day at a Time: An Anthology of Song was released on Castle Records in 2003.

Health and death Martell had surgery to replace a valve in her heart, and in March 2008 underwent a triple heart bypass operation.

Her death at age 86 was reported on 5 October 2026.

Discography Albums Studio albums Year Title Details Peak chart positions CertificationsUK1964Some New Someone Blue Released: 1964 Label: London —1972Presenting Lena Martell Released: 1972 Label: Pye —The Touch of Lena Martell —1973This Is Lena Martell Released: 1973 Label: Pye —1974That Wonderful Sound of Lena Martell Released: 1974 Label: Pye 35Songs —1976Country Style Released: 1976 Label: Pye —1977Hello Misty Morning Released: 1977 Label: Pye —From Lena Martell With Very Special Love —1978Somewhere in My Lifetime Released: 1978 Label: Pye —1979Lena's Music Album Released: October 1979 Label: Pye 4 BPI: Platinum1982Songs of Life Released: 1982 Label: Ronco —Songs of Love Released: July 1982 Label: Ronco —1984Today Released: 1984 Label: Country House —1985The Love Album Released: 1985 Label: Hallmark Marble Arch —1991Sometimes When I'm Dreaming Released: 13 January 1992 Label: Scotdisc —2005Songs from a Woman's Heart Released: 2005 Label: Scotdisc —2006Stand by Me Released: 2006 Label: Scotdisc —2007The Rose Released: 2007 Label: Scotdisc — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Compilation albums Year Title Details Peak chart positions CertificationsUK1972The World of Lena Martell Released: 1972 Label: Decca —1975The Magic of Lena Martell Released: 1975 Label: Pye —1976The Best of Lena Martell Released: 1976 Label: Pye 13 BPI: Gold1978The Lena Martell Collection Released: August 1978 Label: Ronco 12 BPI: Silver197912 FM Golden Greats Released: 1979 Label: Pye —1980By Request Released: 1980 Label: Ronco 9 BPI: GoldLet the Music Play Released: 1980 Label: One-Up —Spotlight on Lena Martell Released: 1980 Label: PRT —Lena Martell Released: September 1980 Label: Pickwick Super Stars —Beautiful Sunday Released: November 1980 Label: Ronco 23 BPI: Gold1981Feelings Released: March 1981 Label: Hallmark —Something Simple Released: 1981 Label: Decca —The Best of Lena Martell Released: 1981 Label: Reader's Digest —1994Feelings – The Best of Lena Martell Released: 1994 Label: True Trax —1996The Best of Lena Martell – One Day at a Time Released: 1996 Label: Pulse —2004My Homeland Released: 2004 Label: Scotdisc —2008One Day at a Time: The Ultimate Collection Released: January 2008 Label: Sanctuary — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Singles YearSinglePeak chart positionsCertificationsIREUK1961"Love Can Be" — —1962"The Reason Why" — —1963"Let the Music Play" — —"I Wish You Well" — —1964"I'm a Fool to Want You" — —1967"The Pop Group Song" — —"Somewhere My Love" — —1968"In Time" — —"Come September" — —1969"It's Another World" — —1970"Love Made a Fool of Me" — —"For the Love of Him" — —1971"I'm Going Home" — —"Somewhere My Love" (re-release) — —1972"It's Too Late Now" — —1973"While We're Still Young" — —"Four and Twenty Hours" — —"A Scottish Trilogy" — —1974"Billy" — —"Hasta Mañana" — —1975"After All Is Said and Done" — —1976"Call Collect" — —"Christmas Every Other Year (Six Weeks Every Summer)" — —1977"Times Were" — —"One Day at a Time" — —1978"Somewhere in My Lifetime" — —1979"One Day at a Time" (re-release) 27 1 BPI: Gold1980"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" — —"Why Me (Why Me, Lord?)" — —1981"Pray with Me" — —1984"You're My Hero (The Wind Beneath My Wings)" — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

See also List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart List of performers on Top of the Pops List of one-hit wonders on the UK Singles Chart

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