Son of fiddler Dock Phil Roberts, James Roberts was born in 1918 in Madison County, Kentucky, While working with his father's old partner Asa Martin at WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky in 1938, he met the young Irene Amburgey (1921-) from Neon, whose family band was playing on the show. By 1940 they were married and performing on WSB in Atlanta. Throughout the 40's, they were one of the leading gospel acts on radio, and their fans took it very personally when the act and the marriage broke up in 1950. Martha Carson kept her stage name and went on to a successful Nashville career; James worked here and there in the music business for years, eventually retiring to Lexington.
James And Martha Carson, The Radio Sweethearts: James Roberts, lead vocal, mandolin; Irene Amburgey Roberts, harmony vocal, guitar.
Canton GA 1947 White Church 1189
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