Marvin & Johnny
Marvin & Johnny were a doo-wop group from Los Angeles, California, which has had some rhythm and blues hits in the 1950s. While Marvin Phillips occurred largely constant as " Marvin", joined by the cast of "Johnny".
- 2.1 Singles
- 2.2 albums
History
Prehistory
Marvin Phillips and Emory Perry played around 1949 in the Richard Lewis band saxophone. Perry then moved to the first own band Marvin, published as " Marvin Phillips and his Men From Mars " on Specialty Records. Under the name of Jesse & Marvin was born on the same label with Dreamgirl successful production with the prominent R & B singer and composer Jesse Belvin. As Belvin was drafted into the army and Marvin's first attempts at Parrot and Swing Time Records had little success as a solo artist, Marvin seeking a new partner.
Marvin and Johnny various
About the first, and possibly also the eponymous "Johnny" there are different information. Steve Propes, who has Marvin Philips, Emory Perry and Carl " Johnny" Green interviewed for his book on vocal groups in Los Angeles, reported that it was the latter that with Marvin and involvement of the Marsmen in the background for Specialty Records Babydoll and 1953 I'm Not A Fool was recorded. Philips was doing with respect to the choice of name of the duo on record that Marvin & Carl would probably " not very cool" sounded. The Discography Collection Soulful Kinda Music, however, called Johnny Dean, Colin Larkin in the Encyclopedia of Popular Music already Emory "Johnny" Perry, who played in Marvin's band The Marsmen.
The duo changed hands in 1954 to the neighboring blues label Modern Records, where with Tick Tock took a further chart success. The inspiration for the title came through the passing on the watch tower of the Los Angeles Union Station, as the duo on their way to Moderns new studio in Culver City was. But remained most popular B-side Cherry Pie due to an extensive radio presence. For more singles on the Modern Duo expanded its stylistic elements to Doo -wop typical humorous scenes similar to those of the Coasters and renewed the classic rhythm-and - blues sound Louis Jordan. Elsewhere is specified for the Modern recordings Johnny Dean as " Johnny".
Emory Perry had to share the role of Johnny with the laid-off from the army Jesse Belvin, who took over the location on the side of his old duet partner from the time of Jesse & Marvin is from 1955. So Jesse was at live performances not seten the "Johnny" and then sang in their own right his popular hits. In the studio, Ko-Ko- Mo, I Love You, Yes I Do and Sugar Mama came with Belvin, while Emory Perry was responsible for the backs Title Baby, Will not You Marry Me and Butterball. After a brief stint at the old label with Mamo Mamo Specialty and Ding Dong Baby, Marvin signed a two year contract at Modern as Art Rupe did not sufficiently promoted and supported by Specialty Ding Dong Baby. For Will You Love Me guitarist Rufus Thomas stepped in as Johnny. In September 1955, Marvin tried under the stage name " Long Tall Marvin" again as a solo artist.
However, since the success failed to materialize, Marvin moved to Aladdin Records - this time with "Johnny" Roy Richards of the Robins. Hey Chicken and Yeah Yeah ( yak yak) were greater numbers also because of the well-known session band around guitarist Ernie Freeman, saxophonist Plas Johnson and drummer Earl Palmer. In 1958, the single Baby, Baby, Baby with Bye Bye My Baby was released on Ray's Records. This time Willie Egan sang as " Johnny". Until 1965 published recordings on Aladdin Records, the sublabel Kent Modern Records, and the small record labels Firefly, Jamie Records, Swingin ' and Felsted with the participation of Willie Egan, Rufus Anderson and Bobby Sheen. On Crown Records, a further modern- daughter also the compilations of the work in albums format published. Cherry Pie, the theme song of the duo reached 1960 in a cover version of Skip & Flip eleventh place on the pop charts.
Rip Spencer as Marvin
1962 bought Marvin's nephew Sheridan " Rip " Spencer the band name of his uncle, who retired from disappointment over not received royalties for his songs from the music business. Rip was for many years a member of a doo-wop group that since 1955 under different names as The Sabers, The Chavelles, The Gents, The Valiants, The Untouchables, The Electras, The Alley Cats and The Happy Tones in the Los Ange reader R & B Scene was active. Rip took over the role of Marvin, Johnny acted as James Barker, Bobby Sheen, Don Julian, Ron Shy and again Johnny Starks. Without its own publications, the duo toured as part of an oldies show promoter Wolfman Jack.
Comeback and end
In 1993, Marvin Phillips himself at the Rip Spencer's side again as Marvin & Johnny into show business back. In 1999, Marvin & Johnny the festival "Rhythm Riot " on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the doo-wop genre in London. On 9 December 2009 Rip Spencer was shot in Compton, California.
Discography
Singles
(* ) With the Marsmen