Janis Martin (1940-2007): The female Elvis

Since 2007, San Antonio-born singer-songwriter Rosie Flores has had a dream: to release the album she produced for country/rockabilly star Janis Martin (1940-2007), “The Female Elvis,” who passed away shortly after the recording of the album.

“Through the years of our friendship I never gave up on trying to get Janis back in the studio to record something new and in 2007 she finally agreed,” Flores told the Current via email. “Drummer Bobby Trimble and I combed through a plethora of material, finally selecting 10 new songs we thought would fit Janis to a tee and then we put together an amazing band and recorded those sides. She was really nervous, but she sang great! We recorded for two days and we got the most amazing results out of her.”

Recently, Flores raised $15,000 to do post-production on the album; it will be mastered this year and released in late 2011 or in early 2012, she said. She described it to the Los Angeles Times as her best work yet, and I’m dying to hear it.

Local rockers Altus didn’t have a career as long as Martin’s, but the members took it seriously and want to dissolve in style with a final show at The Ten Eleven ($6, all ages, 8:30pm Fri, June 24, 1011 Ave B). The bill includes the Cardinal Health, Houston’s Square and Compass, Magic Landing, and the Ghost Tracks. Altus, formed in 2007, released one full-length CD, a split 7” (with A Kid Named Thompson), and a two-song CD. Their brand-new four-song EP will be given away at the Ten Eleven show.

“We are breaking up ’cause everyone has been so busy the past few years and the band had really gotten put on the back-burner,” drummer Josh Huskin, an original member and regular Current photographer, said last week. “We didn’t want to just kind of fade away, so we planned a last show and are recording the final four-song EP as some closure.” But remnants will press on. Marc Molina [guitars/vocals for Altus] plays with Manford Place with his former bandmates from A Kid Named Thompson. Huskin can be found playing in the hardcore band, eightfifteen. “I’m sure Steph (original Altus member Stephanie McVey, piano/vocals) and I will start something new,” Huskin said, “but we haven’t figured out what exactly we want to do yet.

“The Ten Eleven was our favorite place to play, and we are glad our good friends in The Cardinal Health are playing our last show,” Huskin added. “Come drink some beer with us.”

> Email Enrique Lopetegui