The group was founded in 1933 by Roberta Martin, who in that same year had just become acquainted with gospels music, which was different from the traditional spirituals which were popular at the time.
Theodore Frye and Thomas A. Dorsey were directing a junior choir at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Chicago, Illinois, and asked Martin to serve as the accompanist.
From this junior choir, Martin selected six young men at random to form a group, Eugene Smith, Norsalus McKissick, Robert Anderson, Willie Webb, James Lawrence, and W.C. Herman.
Some of their most popular releases during this time include "Old Ship of Zion" (1949), "Yield Not to Temptation" (1947), "He Knows How Much You Can Bear" (1949), "Only a Look" (1949), and Eugene Smith's composition, "The Lord Will Make a Way" (1951).
Martin also began to team up with a young James Cleveland, who composed songs for the group such as "I'm Determined" (1953), "Every Now and Then" (1957) and "Since I Met Him" (1961).
Gloria Griffin was brought on board in 1957 to replace Bessie Folk, who'd been involved in a serious auto accident and could not sing in the group as a result.
In 1958, the RMS scored their first big hit with Savoy records, "God Specializes" featuring Gloria Griffin on lead.
During 1963, Bessie Folk left for a final time to join the Sallie Martin Singers, the RMS recorded their first live album and made their first transatlantic trip to sing at the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy.
During their time with Savoy, the group made more popular recordings, including "Grace" (1958), ""Hold the Light" (1959), "No Other Help I Know" (1962) and "There Is No Failure in God" (1963), among others.
Delois Barrett-Campbell left the group in 1966, with Roberta Martin's encouragement, to embark on an independent career with the Barrett Sisters.
[2] Martin had experienced a short rebound from her illness and was able to lead one song on the album I Have Hope, which was written by Jessie Jimerson a.k.a.
James Cleveland and the Voices of Tabernacle in the late 60s before embarking on a solo career recording for Stax, and was featured in the Wattstax concert of 1972.
In the mid or late 1970s, Collier suffered a stroke which paralyzed her on one side, rendering her unable to play the piano or organ.
The group came together for a series of reunion concerts in 1981, commemorating a Smithsonian Conference on Roberta Martin, consisting of Eugene Smith, Norsalus McKissick, Archie Dennis, Romance Watson, Delois Barrett-Campbell, Louise McCord, Gloria Griffin, Bessie Folk, Lucy Smith Collier, and Richard Smallwood as accompanist.
[8] The number of former Roberta Martin Singers began to dwindle, with the deaths of James Lawrence in 1990; Gloria Griffin, Myrtle Scott, and Robert Anderson in 1995; Norsalus McKissick in 1997;[9] Bessie Folk on February 1, 2001;[10] Rev.