Jerry Lott (January 30, 1938 – September 4, 1983) was an American singer-songwriter credited as Marty Lott and identified with the stage name and persona of The Phantom.^[1] He is best known for recording the rockabilly single "Love Me" and "Whisper Your Love" in 1958, released by Dot Records in 1960. Though commercially unsuccessful upon release, "Love Me" has since been recognized as one of the most distinctive recordings of the rockabilly era, influencing artists including The Cramps and earning the admiration of Led Zeppelin vocalist Robert Plant, who has cited it as his favorite song of all time.^[2]

Jerry Lott was born on January 30, 1938 in Prichard, Alabama. He relocated with his parents, Bill and Bertha (McLeod (surname)) Lott to Leakesville, Mississippi, where his maternal ancestors had been among the founding settlers since approximately 1860.^[3] In Leakesville, he picked up the acoustic guitar and played country music, performing locally as early as 1952 at school, local venues, and a talent contest.^{[4][better source needed]} Lott served in the United States Navy from April 19, 1956 until December 3, 1957, confirmed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem.^[5][6]

In 1956, Lott attended a performance by Elvis Presley when the Louisiana Hayride came to the area, an experience he later described as transformative.^[4] He subsequently began performing under the forename "Marty," which he used consistently throughout his performing career.^[1]

In June 1958, Lott entered Gulf Coast Studios in Mobile, Alabama, Accompanied by his manager Johnny Blackburn, who rented the studio time. The session produced two original compositions: "Love Me" and "Whisper Your Love." The musicians on the session were Frank Holmes on electric guitar, Pete McCord on electric bass, Bill Yates on piano, and H.H. Brooks on drums.^[2][7] Of the recording session, Lott later recalled: "It was wild. The drummer lost one of his sticks, the piano player screamed and knocked his stool over, the guitar player's glasses were hanging sideways over his eyes."^[8]

Following the recording session, Lott traveled to Los Angeles to seek a record deal. He located pop singer Pat Boone at a church and persuaded him to listen to the master tape. Boone subsequently facilitated a release through Dot Records.^[1] Prior to Boone's involvement, Lott had adopted the stage name **The Phantom**, reportedly at Boone's suggestion, after the Lee Falk comic strip character.^[4] Lott signed a contract with Boone's management and, according to his own account, never met anyone at Dot Records directly.^[7]

The single — "Love Me" backed with "Whisper Your Love" — was issued on Dot Records catalog number 16056 (master MB 14019) in January 1960.^[4][7] Despite its extraordinary sonic character, the single failed to chart commercially. Dot Records dropped Lott shortly thereafter.

Following the single's commercial failure, Lott continued performing on the regional circuit spanning the Gulf Coast region, greater Mobile area, and the Piedmont areas of South Carolina, as well as Nashville. On or around July 22, 1966, Lott sustained severe injuries in an automobile accident while residing in Glendale, Spartanburg County, South Carolina. He was treated at Greenville General Hospital, Greenville, South Carolina, where he was reported in poor condition with a neck injury from July 23 through at least July 25, 1966.^[9] The accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, ending his performing career.^[1] Following the accident, Lott returned to Greene County, Mississippi, where he lived in the Vernal community until his death. He continued to write songs but never recorded again.^[1] At the time of his 1966 injury he was residing in Glendale, Spartanburg County, South Carolina.^[9]

The earliest known article specifically about Lott was published in 1977 in *Mean Mountain Music*, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based rock and roots publication and record label operated by Mike Muskovitz, authored by Skip Rose and Jim Barkey. This article was subsequently updated by Derek Glenister, who interviewed Lott directly, for publication in *New Kommotion* No. 24 in 1980.^[2]

Lott married Billie Faye Starling on November 8, 1958, in George County, Mississippi. Billie Faye Starling subsequently remarried, becoming Billie Faye Brazil. She died on February 11, 1973, in a two-car accident on U.S. Highway 45, two miles west of Tupelo, Mississippi, alongside her two eight-year-old children, Curtis and Shelia Marie Brazil, all of Belden, Mississippi.^[10]

Lott died on September 4, 1983, in Vernal, Mississippi, at the age of 45.^[11] He is buried at Scotland Cemetery, Leakesville, Greene County, Mississippi, under the name Marty Lott, with the inscription "He's free - as the wind blows."

Although "Love Me" failed commercially upon its 1960 release, it attracted significant attention during the rockabilly revival of the early 1980s. Miriam Linna, co-founder of Norton Records, wrote enthusiastically about the recording in *Kicks* Magazine No. 3 (1984).^[12] The Cramps covered "Love Me" on their 1984 compilation Bad Music for Bad People, introducing Lott's recording to the post-punk and psychobilly underground.^[1] The Bananamen, a side project of British rockabilly band The Sting-rays, also recorded a version.^[1]

Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin has cited "Love Me" as his favorite song of all time.^[2]

"Love Me" was used in a Southern Comfort television advertisement in 2014.^[13]

• Dwight Pullen
• Ronnie Self
• Gene Maltais
• Allen Page
• Bill Allan

• Scotland Cemetery, Leakesville, Greene County, Mississippi
• Jerry Lott discography at Discogs