06/10/2026
As many will now know, Lena Martell Scottish singing star has sadly passed away following a short illness. All of us at Artistes International Management are deeply saddened, and our heartfelt thoughts are with her family, friends and the many people who loved her.
We worked with Lena for many years, promoting her concerts and tours throughout the UK. During the early 2000s, I also had the privilege of playing piano for her. Sitting at the piano, hearing that voice soar and watching an audience respond was a joy. I feel very lucky to have shared those stages with her.
I often said she was Scotlandβs Shirley Bassey. What a voice she had powerful, full of feeling and unmistakably her own. She could command a room, then sing something so tenderly that everyone seemed to fall silent together.
And away from the stage, she was wonderful company.
I loved listening to her stories about her career. The places she had been, the people she had worked with and the experiences she had gathered were fascinating. Sometimes I would sit there thinking, βWhat a life this woman has lived.β
For all she had achieved, she remained a Glasgow wummin with her feet firmly on the ground.
Lena would regularly visit our office, and although people recognised her, she always made time to say hello and have a chat. She was warm, funny and easy to be around. You could admire her as a performer and feel completely comfortable with her as a person.
My parents were both big fans, especially my dad. He had all her albums, so her voice had been a familiar part of our familyβs life long before I worked with her.
One afternoon, my parents came to visit me at home. Unbeknown to them, Lena had phoned a few hours earlier to say she was popping round.
When the doorbell rang, I asked my dad to answer it.
There stood Lena Martell.
βHello,β she said.
His face was a picture. For a moment, he looked like a little boy surprised, delighted and perhaps wondering whether this was really happening.
Lena came in, we had coffee, and we spent the afternoon talking. By the time she left, you would have thought she and my parents had been friends for years.
I have thought about that afternoon many times. To Lena, it may simply have been a visit and a few cups of coffee. To my mum & dad, it was something wonderful. To me, it became a precious family memory.
That was what made her special. She had time for people, and she made them feel at ease. Even with a career full of remarkable moments, she could give someone else a moment they would never forget.
I will always be proud to have worked with Lena, to have accompanied her at the piano and to have known the lovely woman behind that remarkable voice.
Her much-loved song One Day at a Time will continue to bring comfort and pleasure to so many. And whenever I hear it, I will remember the concerts, the conversations, the laughterβand my dad opening that door!
Rest peacefully, Lena. Thank you for the music, your friendship and the memories we will hold close.
David Halford
Artistes International Management