About DJ Martha

DJ Martha - The Lady of Salsa

Delivering the Total Latin Sound Experience

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About DJ Martha

Martha Blount isn't your average disc jockey. It's not about the way she spins beats, or the way she dances with her crowd. She can hold her own with the best of them, and has done so for nearly 20 years.

Blount better known as D.J. Martha, rocked Club Alliance every Thursday to the smooth beats of Latin music for Salsa Night. What sets her apart from the rest is that she not only loves the music she plays, she grew up surrounded by it, having grown up in Brooklyn, New York to Puerto Rican parents who made Latin music a part of their life.

"It's a passion for me. I love music," Blount said. "It's a way to introduce culture to all nationalities. Salsa is a mixture of Afro-Cuban rhythms, Latin jazz and musical influences from various Latino countries."

She said her history and knowledge of the music is what gives her an edge over her younger counterparts.

"They're never going to know the music I know" she said. "The old school is important. Thst's where they're getting all the new stuff, from the old school."

Blount said it's been interesting to witness the popularity of Latin and salsa music, and how other genres have been born from it. There is merengue, bachata and more recently Reggaeton. Reggaeton is a mixture of Latin and Rap music, and is a growing fascination among younger audiences. While Blount said she respects the new music, she prefers to stick to her roots.

Blount got her start behind the microphone after her parents moved to Hawaii in 1971. She worked as a disc jockey in Hawaii for 15 years, and in various other parts of the United States before moving Yokosuka in 2001.

"I started with 10 records, a unit and two speakers, " she said. "I started playing on base (at Schoffield Barracks in Hawaii.) They called me the Lady of Salsa."

D.J. Martha said goodbye to Yokosuka in her last Salsa block party last month. In an interview before leaving, she recalled fond memories of her time in Japan and expressed a deep appreciation for the support she has received.

"First of all, thanks to God who has given me the strenght to do this, " she said. " I really believe it keeps me going."

Blount also acknowledged her family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation club managers, and all those who came to dance to her beats.

" I want to really thank the Yokosuka community for giving me the support they have throughout the years, and definitely the Japanese community because they stepped in powerfully."

By Denise T. Ward
CFAY, Public Affairs
Seahawk Umitaka
July 22, 2005

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Martha is now living in New Orleans and has brought the spicy sounds of salsa music to the Belle Chasse Naval Air Base At McCann's Pub once a month.