Marti Caine, born Lynne Denise Shepherd (26 January 1945 – 4 November 1995), was an English comedienne, actress, dancer, presenter, singer, and writer, who first came to national attention by winning the television talent show New Faces in 1975, and went on to become a variety star on shows including the self-titled Marti Caine (1979–84), and as host of the revived New Faces (1986–88).
"[2] At nineteen, and unable to pay the £19 cost of her mother's funeral expenses, she auditioned as Lynne Stringer (her married name) at the Working Men's Club in Chapeltown, a district of Sheffield.
[2] After working for many years on the club circuit in Yorkshire as a stand-up comic and cabaret singer, Caine gained national prominence when she appeared on the ATV talent show New Faces in 1975.
Caine recorded five albums, also working with Karl Jenkins who wrote the signature tune "Quiet Please, The Lady's Gonna Sing" using the theme from Sibelius's 5th Symphony.
The sweeping, theatrical delivery of this title track contrasts with the easy, fluid style with which she approaches "Ebony Eyes" on the same album.
However, her persona as cabaret host and comedian seemed to prevent any serious inroads into commercial musical success – though her recordings were marketed globally, in areas as far-flung as Scandinavia, South America and Australasia – with huge numbers bought by television audiences.
Her posthumous CD, released in 1996, was compiled from her BBC Radio shows, her musical director noting that "I was working with, arguably, 'the best female singer around' but who was, unfortunately, always thought of, first and foremost, as a comedienne".
[citation needed] She had spent the last years of her life campaigning on behalf of cancer charities (the proceeds from her last album going directly to the Marti Caine Children with Leukaemia Trust).
[citation needed] The film Funny Cow, starring Maxine Peake as a troubled northern comedienne, was inspired by the life of Marti Caine.