Martha Davis has spent more than five decades proving that true artistry never fades. Born Martha Emily Davis on January 19, 1951, in Berkeley, California, she is now 73 years old and still holds a respected place in music. With an estimated net worth of $2 million as of 2024, Davis’s story is not just one of chart-topping hits but also of personal grit, loss, and an unshakable bond with her craft.
Long before platinum records, Martha’s life took a dramatic turn. She grew up in a family that blended creativity with structure—her mother taught kindergarten while her father worked as an administrator at the University of California, Berkeley. That mix shaped Martha’s grounded yet imaginative view of the world.
Her journey into adulthood was far from typical. At just 15, Martha found herself pregnant. By 17, she was married to Ronnie Paschell and living on a U.S. Air Force base in Florida. The marriage didn’t last; by 1970, it ended, and Ronnie’s tragic death in Vietnam two years later forced Martha to pack up and return to Berkeley with two young daughters in tow.
Personal loss seemed to follow. Not long after, Martha’s mother died by suicide. But instead of letting tragedy define her, Martha used the small inheritance she received to buy a home and pour her energy into the one thing that had always made sense—music.
Finding Her Sound With The Motels
In 1971, Martha joined a local group called The Warfield Foxes. By 1975, the band took a leap and moved to Los Angeles, where they rebranded as The Motels. The LA scene wasn’t easy to break into, but Martha’s voice—haunting yet defiant—cut through the noise.
A personal breakup with bandmate Dean Chamberlain fueled the raw emotion behind “Total Control,” one of The Motels’ signature songs. In 1979, Capitol Records gave The Motels their big break. Their self-titled debut album hit shelves that same year, climbing to #4 in New Zealand and #23 in Australia—a sign that the world was ready for Martha’s unique sound.
Their follow-up albums only built on that momentum. Careful (1980) found success overseas, hitting #3 in New Zealand and #26 in Australia. But it was All Four One in 1982 that cemented The Motels’ place in music history. The album went Gold in the U.S., powered by “Only the Lonely,” which climbed to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1983, Little Robbers brought another Gold certification, thanks to “Suddenly Last Summer”—another Top 10 hit.
By the mid-80s, The Motels had become a staple on radio and MTV, with Shock (1985) adding to their catalog of hits. Martha’s voice, sometimes fragile, sometimes fierce, connected deeply with fans who found comfort in her stories of love, loss, and longing.
Going Solo And Keeping The Fire Burning
In 1987, Martha stepped out with her solo album Policy. Tracks like “Tell It to the Moon” showcased her ability to reinvent herself while staying true to the themes that made her relatable in the first place. Though she eventually parted ways with Capitol Records, she never stepped away from songwriting.
Throughout the 1990s, Martha kept creating. In 2008, The Motels returned with This, followed by Apocalypso (2011)—an album that had originally been shelved in the 80s but finally saw the light of day. If Not Now Then When (2017) and The Last Few Beautiful Days (2018) proved that Martha Davis could still deliver songs full of raw emotion and storytelling depth.
Tragedy struck again when her daughter Maria passed away in 2016. The grief added an extra layer of depth to The Last Few Beautiful Days, an album many fans consider one of her most powerful.
A Life Rooted In Family And Nature
Beyond the stage, Martha’s family life has always been her anchor. She raised her two daughters largely on her own and later adopted her sister Janet’s son, Phil. Today, she continues to nurture the family bonds that helped her weather life’s toughest storms.
In 2005, Martha made a life-changing decision. She bought a 720-acre farm in Deer Island, Oregon, for $479,000—a stark contrast to the glitzy rockstar lifestyle people often imagine. Her farm is home to a historic 5,000-square-foot farmhouse, alpacas, crops, and enough open land to breathe. For Martha, the farm is more than a home; it’s a sanctuary where she can step away from the spotlight and recharge.
Accolades And A Legacy That Lasts
Through the years, Martha’s contributions haven’t gone unnoticed. In 1982, she won an American Music Award for Best Performance for “Only the Lonely.” Decades later, in 2012, she picked up an Independent Music Award for Best Re-Issue Album for Apocalypso.
But maybe her biggest achievement is her staying power. While many 80s bands faded, Martha Davis and The Motels keep finding new fans. Their music still shows up on movie soundtracks, streaming playlists, and retro radio stations, ensuring Martha’s voice lives on for future generations.