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Second to the youngest in a family of five, Joanna played basketball, volleyball, ran track and sang in the choir while in high school. She was a member of the National Honor Society, SADD, participated in church youth group and showed animals in the Four H Fair. In 2004 Joanna graduated in the top five of her class from Edwardsburg High School. Joanna is a midwest girl with a zealous heart that wants nothing but to serve and honor her Lord.
Her passion to serve God was nourished richly by her upbringing. Her parents, Emilio and Sherry Martino raised their children, Angel, Josiah, Rachel, Joanna and Susanna in Penn Friends church in Cassopolis, where Sherry’s father was the pastor for 28 years. While just in the past six years, Joanna’s father began to pastor at The First Baptist Church of Union, Michigan. Joanna praises her parents for always supporting her and encouraging her in all of her endeavors. They have instilled in Joanna to always follow and know Gods will for her life. “You hear how it’s who you know, well my dad says ‘we know Jesus! We know the best one!”’ With that, Joanna knows that God will open the doors necessary to keep her in His will, serving Him as He leads in her life.
American Idol
On nothing more than a whim, Joanna’s older sister Angel who lives in Detroit where American Idol was hosting auditions, encouraged Joanna to tryout for the second season of American Idol. “I was just someone who sang at church, someone who sang in choir. I just like to sing. But, I totally believe that you need to sing as much as you can. So, American Idol was just for the experience, I thought it would be fun. When I first auditioned, I don’t think I even thought ahead of what was going to happen.”
With that experience, Joanna felt even more that the outcome would be nothing more than Gods will for her life at that time. “I made it to the final 80 out of 70,000 to the 6th round audition. When I got to that round I knew, and I had a peace that this was as far as I was going to go and it was okay.” With a new confidence, the opportunity gave her the exposure and experience she needed to consider if a singing career was the direction God would have her pursue.
After High School, What Now?
Having graduated in June, the next step for Joanna was Music City in Nashville. Turning down scholarship opportunities and deciding that college was not the immediate next step for her was a difficult decision. Through muchprayer and counsel, she decided to give it a year to see if it was really Gods will for her to follow her passion in music. “A year after I graduated I was in the middle of working on my first record, so I guess this is going okay! I’ve learned that if this is what God has called me to do, then, I’ve got to be obedient, even if something else might sound better or be a more popular decision. To be obedient to God is first of all, something He’s called us to do, and if you are obedient He will honor and bless you even though it may take a while to get there and it might be hard.” It was a test for her to learn to trust God in His timing. “When I moved away, I lived on my own. It was a real shocker, an eye opener; it was real world like—What! I have to pay for rent, food and my own gas? What is this? It can be discouraging at times, but, it’s (singing) totally obtainable if it is Gods will, but you have to be patient and trust in God.”
Realizing that it takes a lot of time, patience and money to get started in a singing career especially as an independent artist, Joanna worked at Starbucks, a day care and worked as a waitress to help finance her music career. “In the music industry, record labels spend like $50,000 on a song, and I’m trying to write a ten song record and make it sound just as good as a label would make it sound. So, through a lot prayer and patiently waiting, God has brought the right people into my life, and my parents have helped as much as they can. I have had so many awesome Christian friends say they believe in me and want to help me. It’s still a struggle, but when the money was needed, it was there. That’s definitely one thing my parents have taught me. It’s a struggle a lot, but God is faithful, and when you need money it’s there.”
That which inspires Joanna
Many types of music have inspired Joanna over the years. When she was younger she listened mostly to Country, and then Christian music as the industry started to offer more over the years. Joanna laughs at the thought that she used to get into trouble by her parents when she listened to anything but Christian music. The artists that she is most fond of include Building 429, Jeremy Camp, and Adam Watts.
These days however, her inspiration comes more from her audience. “It is so encouraging that God can be using you in areas that you don’t even know. It is so cool, if I can just do this and live and know that this is what God has called me to do and know that I am fulfilling His purpose for my life then that’s all I really want.”
I definitely have a passion for younger kids middle school/high school and even college kids. I feel like I have been through a lot of the stuff that they are dealing with. I just want to be an encouragement to them just to seek after God. In the song, A World Less Traveled, it’s about following the path that Christ has called us to, it is not the easiest one, but, it’s the one that God promises to be faithful in and to be with us and to make us strong and to reward us in eternity, and it will be worth it.
The most rewarding thing about singing is definitely just hearing or believing in the stories of the lives that are changed or touched or encouraged by the music that God has allowed me to sing. I know when I am searching for an answer or when I am down and I hear a song that I just know it’s from God and it’s a confirmation about a decision I need to make, or uplifting at a time in an area I am hurting, it’s the most awesome thing to have God speak to me that way. And to be able to have God use me to speak to them that way, is the coolest thing ever. It is the most rewarding thing ever to know that God is using me.”
Advice to Aspiring Teens
Pray, pray, pray, pray. Joanna encourages those who think that pursuing a singing career is unattainable, she says “pray, pray, pray, pray—this is the number one key thing to do, and not only ask God, but listen. And secondly, the same advice someone had given me, sing as much as you can. It doesn’t matter if it’s for one person two people, two-hundred, or two-thousand people. Sing as much as you can and don’t be afraid. It will give you experience and exposure. It’s who you know; word of mouth is the best marketing ever.”
Joanna says singing so often is the best way to get over the typical fear and nervousness. “The more you do it, the more natural and better you get. It’s a process.” Though there may be those people who try to discourage you, and try to get in the way of you persuing your dreams, but Joanna says “if it is what God has called you to do, no one can take it away from you.”
A Day in the Life of Joanna
Days of just being Joanna from a small Midwest town hanging with friends and late nights are few and far between. Most opportunities of coming back home to be with family in the michiana area are intertwined with promotional events.
“The most challenging part of the music industry is the fact that you sacrifice a lot. It is a lot of hard work. Not the glitter and glamour that everyone sees. When I would like to be out with friends, I have to be home resting my voice. You have to weigh everything out to see if it is something that God wants you to do, or if it’s something that you just want to do.
Joanna says it’s equally hard to find time with God. “I have to make time. It just doesn’t just happen. It’s so easy not to fit God in your day. You really have to take time, turn off the phone, don’t open the door, and make time to be with God. Satan is always trying to distract and take you in other directions.”
Where to hear Joanna and her Debut CD
My World, Joanna’s first CD debuted in August 2005. She and producer Drew Cline co-wrote one song on the album, Lay it Down. The lyrics mimic the thoughts and struggles many young people deal with…wrestling with the truth of who they are, and giving their innermost struggles over to God. Capturing her pleasant personality, welcoming smile and incredible voice, God uses Joanna to minister to young teens in a very real way.
“I co-wrote one song on the record, but because of time we purchased songs from publishing companies or producers. It was a big deal with me; I wanted songs that were close to my heart, songs that lyrically, God put on my heart. I prayed that God would lead in choosing the songs. Ultimately, He knows who will be hearing them a year from now, ten years from now or whatever. He knows what words will penetrate peoples heart. And so that was a big decision. I think through prayer and the time we took, that we picked songs that even touched me and the things that I want to talk about and can relate to.
Right now Joanna is touring and promoting her new CD. Just recently she signed a booking agreement with Jeff Roberts and Associates and has begun a long-term partnership with Compassion International. JRA, the largest exclusively Christian booking agency in the industry, Joanna will be joining the ranks with such diverse talent as Casting Crowns, Avalon, Rebecca St. James, Seventh Day Slumber, KJ-52, Twila Paris and Skillet.
My World is currently available for purchase through CDBaby.com, Tower
Records.com and can be found on the digital download sites such as: iTunes.com, Music Net, MSN Music, PassAlong, and Rhapsody. Over the next few months her touring schedule includes Cross Over Christian Music Festival in Camdenton, MO, Camp Winshape for Girls in Mt. Berry, GA, Southfork Ranch - Celebrate Freedom 2006 in Parker, TX and the Butterfly Girls Concert in South Bend, IN.
Joanna’s desire is to minister. She has a message in her music that she feels God has called her to. As such, she desires to share her ministry to churches and youth events. To schedule a performance, ministry leaders can contact her manager by emailing andrew@pattonhouseentertainment.com Keeping in touch with friends, family and fans, Joanna can be contacted at www.joannamartino.com as well a spot on My Space at www.myspace.com/joannamartino.
Photo provided by Andrew Patton Management