It’s no surprise Marty is a gifted singer; he has relatives who are famous musicians
Street Roots vendor Marty Sledge’s voice is remarkable. Alluring, multisensory and oddly familiar, it’s the first thing most people notice about him. His range and versatility captivate and draw those around him closer.
And it’s a natural gift. His aunts are the famous Sisters Sledge, the renowned singers behind the Grammy-nominated single “We Are Family.” Another relative, he said, is Percy Sledge, the voice behind “When a Man Loves a Woman.”
Growing up, Marty had no idea about his famous roots. He just knew he liked to sing. And that people liked to listen.
Adopted at 3 weeks old by a family in Seattle, Marty was raised with his biological older brother and four adoptive siblings. He grew up in church, where he learned to sing.
“I was raised Christian, by a Christian family, whose last name was Christian. My mom adopted me at age 50, after raising four kids of her own,” he said.
He discovered his connection to his famous relatives through ancestry.com.
“I was blessed with a voice, and being able to walk in a straight line. I’m not in a hospital. Any day I can stand upright is a good day,” Marty said.
The mostly blind vendor moved with his wife of 14 years from Seattle to Portland. They met in a shelter in Seattle on Mother’s Day. His wife wanted to move to Portland. They’ve been here periodically, and moved here about six months ago. The couple love to travel, so they have spent time in communities in Washington and California, too. But they want to make Portland home now.
About a month ago, Marty celebrated his 56th birthday, and he became a Street Roots vendor after learning about the program from other vendors.
“Why not try it?” he said. “In Seattle, the paper is called Real Change. For me, Street Roots means freedom. I’ve got change in my pocket. I like that.”
Marty celebrates the holidays — all holidays — by staying alive.
“I celebrate every holiday I can, because I can. Life’s been tough, but I have no qualms about it. I live it one day at a time.”
His biggest hope for the new year is to get off the streets and find housing.
“It’s not safe out here, especially in the winter,” he said.
Marty sells papers outside the Fred Meyer on West Burnside. And one thing is certain: He’s singing while he’s selling.
“I love to sing. It’s natural to me. I sing while I sell papers. It’s wonderful. I love it when the kids start dancing. That’s cute.”
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