Born in Paris, Martin was daughter of a university professor (Sciences Po), and started singing in cabarets in the 1950s.

[1] Jean Vilar asked her to stage a show based on poems by René Char for the Festival d'Avignon, interpreted by her and Roger Blin, Francesca Solleville, Bachir Touré (1966).

[1] She was a friend of many poets and writers, including Louis Aragon and Jean Giono.

Surrealist poet Philippe Soupault published a book on her and her work.

[4] In 2009, aged 81, she gave a last performance at the Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord.