Martha Jean “The Queen” Steinberg was such an essential part of the very fabric of Detroit that even after nearly a decade, it is hard to believe that she is not here.

“Queen,” as she was commonly known (I don’t recall ever hearing anyone refer to her as “Martha”), was one of the most intriguing people I have ever known. She was unique. There had never been anyone even remotely like her before and there never will be again.

She epitomized what a powerful woman is, and also what can happen based on a strong personality, an attention-grabbing style, and an I-refuse-to-lose attitude.

Queen could light up a room. No, let me put it this way: Queen always lit up a room! She wasn’t one to be ignored and, in fact, couldn’t be. Granted, there are those who would attach the word “overbearing” to her, but never mind them.

THIS IMPOSING woman exuded self-confidence. She was grand.

Martha Jean “The Queen” was indeed a queen. In fact, on one occasion she told a reporter that it was meant to be, that it had been “written in the sands of time.”

So often I wonder what Queen would have to say about the amazing things that have happened in this decade — and she was never one to mince words or candy coat the truth. She always told it like it was, or at least how she saw it. Fan or not, you had to respect her honesty.

What would Queen have to say about Barack Obama becoming the first Black president? A Detroit mayor having to resign and then serve a jail sentence? A Detroit City Council rocked by scandal, suspicion
and bad behavior? The American automobile industry fighting for its life?

We can only speculate, but know this: Queen would have plenty to say!

MARTHA JEAN “The Queen” arrived in Detroit in 1963, from Memphis, and quickly became one of the most popular radio personalities at the Inkster-based WCHB. She introduced a series of trademark catchphrases, including “I betcha!” and “Puttin’ you into somethin’
you can’t shake-a-loose whether you want to or not.”

I will never forget her introduction of Martha & the Vandellas at the Fox Theater in a show presented shortly after she joined WCHB. She said, “You know they’ve got to be into somethin’ because one of ’em’s
name is Martha!”

Queen remained at WCHB until 1966, at which time she went to WJLB, which, like WCHB, was an AM station at the time. She had become a fixture in the Metro Detroit area.

Area residents of a certain age will remember Martha Jean “The Queen” emceeing shows (live on the air) at the Chit-Chat lounge, where the house band was Earl Van Dyke and several other musicians from Motown Record Corp.’s legendary Funk Brothers.

At WJLB, Queen introduced hugely popular segment of her morning/afternoon show called “Inspiration Time.” The famous intro was James Cleveland’s rendition of the standard “Without a Song.” In her motivational monologue leading into “Inspiration Time,” Queen would
encourage her thousands of listeners to “reach up and touch your song.”

At some point in the 1970s, the Queen moved into a religious direction. She, in fact, became a minister, though certainly not in the traditional sense, and founded the Home of Love. Long active in the community, her organization, the Blue Collar Workers of America, was renamed the Queen’s Community Workers.

TAKING A religious slant did not, however, stop Queen from being saucy and sassy. Every day on “Inspiration Time” she would dispense advice and most of the time it was very serious, although often it was funny.

One time, for example, she said she saw nothing wrong with a group a lonely women getting together at one of their homes and hiring a male dancer to entertainment them!

I was as amused as I was surprised.

On another occasion, shortly after Easter, she told man-less women to stop worrying so much about a man and, instead, “take that ham bone and make you some soup!”

That was so funny.

I got to know Queen pretty well because for a while in the ’70s I worked with her organization — putting together a newsletter, etc.

Also, I would accompany Queen, her assistant (Mary Cardwell) and others to various events, such as a big event at Masonic Auditorium called “Rendezvous With God.”

QUEEN’S PLAN was to emcee the first part of the program in a purple full-length gown (Queen never showed her legs) and the finale in a stunning white gown. But she got so caught up in what she was doing, including orchestrating everything going on backstage, that she forgot to change.

After the program had ended she turned to me and said jokingly, “Why didn’t you remind me? I wanted put on my white dress and do my thang!”

Queen was good at making you laugh.

However, there was also another side and I saw that, too. She could be combative, and perhaps even vindictive.

In 1987, Aretha Franklin had a gospel album titled “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism,” recorded live at New Bethel Baptist Church. There was a sticker on the cover that said, “Welcome the Queen Back Home.”

Well, that made Queen see red because by this time she was at WQBH (which she later purchased) and the call letters were an acronym for “Welcome Queen Back Home.”

A WQBH deejay, who was also a friend of mine, told me that they had been instructed to not play anything from “One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.” I called so that Queen could confirm or deny and, if she so desired, explain. But instead, she went off.

“We get new gospel albums at the station all the time,” she said forcefully. “What’s so special about that one?” Then she added, “You’ve been talking to someone here and I’m going to find out who it is!”

As soon as we hung up, I called my friend at WQBH to tell him that Queen was on the warpath and for the sake of his job he should say nothing. He appreciated the warning.

But that was just a bump in the road. Overall, my experiences with Martha Jean “The Queen” were wonderful, whether listening to her on the radio or interacting with her personally. She was fascinating
— and entertaining every step of the way.

I also became friends with her daughter, Diane Steinberg Lewis, and got to casually know Sandra Steinberg. I only know Trienere Steinberg peripherally.

Diane, who was Dianne Steinberg at the time, made albums and had a memorable role in the movie “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” starring the Bee Gees and Peter Frampton, also featuring Billy Preston.

One of the greatest compliments anyone can receive is to leave the world a better place than it was before. The Queen did that and more. Then too, as she said on more than one occasion, “the spirit never dies.”

I betcha!