Marvin & Johnny were an American
doo-wop
Doo-wop (also spelled doowop and doo wop) is a genre of rhythm and blues music that originated in African-American communities during the 1940s, mainly in the large cities of the United States, including New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Chica ...
duo which recorded in the 1950s. The duo comprised Marvin Phillips (born October 23, 1931) and Emory "Johnny" Perry (March 1, 1928 - January 6, 2011), who recorded the early doo-wop
single
Single may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
* Single (music), a song release
Songs
* "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004
* "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008
* "Single" (William Wei song), 2016
* "Single", by ...
, "
Cherry Pie".
Career
Phillips was born in
Guthrie, Oklahoma
Guthrie is a city and county seat in Logan County, Oklahoma, United States, and a part of the Oklahoma City Metroplex. The population was 10,191 at the 2010 census, a 2.7 percent increase from the figure of 9,925 in the 2000 census.
First kno ...
, United States and Perry in
Sherman, Texas
Sherman is a U.S. city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas. The city's population in 2020 was 43,645. It is one of the two principal cities in the Sherman–Denison metropolitan statistical area, and it is part of the Texoma region o ...
, but their impact in the music industry occurred in
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
in 1954. The pair had become acquainted in 1949 when they were
saxophonists
Instruments key:
* s, Sopranino
* S, Soprano
* A, Alto
* T, Tenor
* B, Baritone
* b, Bass
* c, Contrabass (or tubax)
* sc, Subcontrabass
Indicators key:
*X, instrument has been used by person or group
*X, instrument has been used by person o ...
for The Richard Lewis Band.
Prior to teaming up with Perry, Phillips worked with several other artists who performed under the name "Johnny." The first was Carl Green, and later Johnny Starks. Phillips also paired with the R&B singer
Jesse Belvin
Jesse Lorenzo Belvin (December 15, 1932 – February 6, 1960) was an American singer, pianist and songwriter popular in the 1950s. Belvin co-wrote the 1954 Penguins' doo-wop classic " Earth Angel", which sold more than 10 million copies, while h ...
. They charted with "Dream Girl" b/w "Daddy Loves Baby" in late 1952.
"Dream Girl" received good airplay and sales in
California
California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...
, but Belvin had opportunities elsewhere and left Phillips to pursue a solo career. Later, Marvin "Rip" Spencer, Phillips' nephew, would perform under the Marvin and Johnny name.
Phillips then teamed up with Carl "Johnny" Green, who had been working as a duo recording as Johnny & Mack for Deluxe Records
De Luxe Records (later DeLuxe Records) was a record company and label formed in 1944 by brothers David Braun (1908–1985) and Julius "Jules" Braun (1911–2002), the sons of Hungarian Jewish immigrants, in Linden, New Jersey. The label ...
. This incarnation of the duo recorded "Baby Doll" b/w "I'm Not Your Fool" for Specialty Records
Specialty Records was an American record label founded in Los Angeles in 1945 by Art Rupe. It was known for rhythm and blues, gospel, and early rock and roll, and recorded artists such as Little Richard, Guitar Slim, Percy Mayfield, and Lloyd P ...
in the summer of 1953.Bihari brothers
The Bihari brothers, Lester, Jules, Saul and Joe, were American businessmen of Hungarian Jewish origins. They were the founders of Modern Records in Los Angeles and its subsidiaries, such as Meteor Records, based in Memphis. The Bihari brothers wer ...
and moved to the Modern Records
Modern Records (Modern Music Records before 1947) was an American record company and label formed in 1945 in Los Angeles by the Bihari brothers. Modern's artists included Etta James, Joe Houston, Little Richard, Ike & Tina Turner and John Lee ...
label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed dir ...
. At Modern, they recorded "Tick Tock" and "Cherry Pie."airplay
Airplay is how frequently a song is being played through broadcasting on radio stations. A song which is being played several times every day (spins) would have a significant amount of airplay. Music which became very popular on jukeboxes, in n ...
.double-entendre
A double entendre (plural double entendres) is a figure of speech or a particular way of wording that is devised to have a double meaning, of which one is typically obvious, whereas the other often conveys a message that would be too socially ...
lyric.
After "Cherry Pie", the pair performed on shows and revues that traveled around the West Coast of the United States. They released "Day In-Day Out" b/w "Flip", then "Kiss Me" b/w "Sugar," and "Little Honey" b/w "Honey Girl". None of these recordings had the commercial impact of "Cherry Pie."
Aside from their doo-wop lineage, Marvin & Johnny were significant figures in the transition from West Coast jump blues
Jump blues is an up-tempo style of blues, usually played by small groups and featuring horn instruments. It was popular in the 1940s and was a precursor of rhythm and blues and rock and roll. Appreciation of jump blues was renewed in the 1990s as ...
to R&B. In 1955, Marvin & Johnny continued to do personal appearances and recorded singles. However, their appeal continued to be based on "Cherry Pie." They went their separate ways that year, but Marvin did not let the Marvin & Johnny name die. Jesse Belvin had received his discharge from the U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
by this time and he rejoined Phillips. In July 1956, Phillips and Belvin broke up again as Phillips began a solo career billed as Long Tall Marvin. Aladdin Records
Aladdin Records was a record company and label founded in Los Angeles in 1945 by brothers Eddie and Leo Mesner. It was originally called Philo Records before changing its name in 1946.
Aladdin was known for jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock mus ...
released "My Dear My Darling" in September 1956 and credited it to Marvin & Johnny. In May 1958, an old Marvin & Johnny recording of "Yak Yak" b/w "Pretty Eyes" was released on Aladdin.
George Carlin
George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Regarded as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time, he was dubbed "the dean of countercul ...
performed "Cherry Pie" following a monologue on the Gladys Knight & The Pips
Gladys Knight & the Pips were an American R&B, soul and funk family music group from Atlanta, Georgia, that remained active on the music charts and performing circuit for over three decades starting from the early 1950s.
Starting out as simpl ...
variety show in 1975, backed by the Pips, and again on ''The Arsenio Hall Show
''The Arsenio Hall Show'' is an American syndicated late-night talk show created by and starring comedian Arsenio Hall.
There have been two different incarnations of ''The Arsenio Hall Show''. The original series premiered on January 3, 1989, ...
'' on 30 November 1989.
References
External links
Marvin & Johnny biography
{{DEFAULTSORT:Marvin and Johnny
Doo-wop groups
Jamie Records artists
Modern Records artists
Kent Records artists
Specialty Records artists
Musical groups established in 1954
1954 establishments in California