MARV JOHNSON: EARLY MOTOWN PIONEER RECALLED


MARV JOHNSON circa 1966

 

 

“MOTOWN PIONEER”

MARV JOHNSON

 

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Marv Earl Johnson (October 15, 1938 – May 16, 1993) was an American R&B and soul singer, notable for performing on the first record issued by Tamla Records, which later became Motown.

Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1938. He began his career singing with a doo-wop group, the Serenaders, in the mid-1950s. With budding talents not only as a singer but also as a songwriter and pianist, he was discovered by Berry Gordy while Johnson performed at a carnival. Gordy had already decided to form his first record label, Tamla, and Johnson’s recording of their song “Come to Me” was the label’s first single, released in May 1959. The fledgling label did not have national distribution, so the song was released by United Artists. It reached number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Johnson went on to co-write another four songs with Gordy. After he issued the first release for the Tamla (Motown) label, Johnson was signed by United Artists. He released three albums and several singles for UA but continued to record in Motown’s homegrown studios at Hitsville USA.

He then re-signed with Motown in 1964, writing and producing as well as recording. “Why Do You Want to Let Me Go” was his first Motown single after he rejoined the company, released by Motown’s Gordy subsidiary in May 1965. Johnson’s final US chart appearance was “I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You)”, which was a minor hit, reaching number 39 on the R&B chart in April 1966. His next release, “I’ll Pick a Rose for My Rose”, issued in 1968, failed to chart; it was his last American single.

Johnson died of a stroke on 16 May 1993, in Columbia, South Carolina, at the age of 54. He was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit. His headstone reads “Motown Pioneer”.

(Source: Wikipedia; Marv Johnson)

 

 


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A MOTOWN BACK PAGE: MARV JOHNSON, DIES AT 54

DETROIT FREE PRESS May 17, 1993

DETROIT FREE PRESS May 17, 1993

 

 

Monday, May 17, 1993

 

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A MOTOWN MONDAY NEWS PRINT BACK-PAGE

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PROGRAMMING THE DETROIT RADIO DIAL: 05/01/1959

Detroit Free Press May 1, 1959

 

Friday, May 1, 1959

 

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: RADIO PROGRAMS for FRIDAY

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THE DETROIT RADIO DIAL

60 YEARS AGO TODAY

 

 

 

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THE NATIONAL ‘TOP 30’ THIS WEEK: HONOR ROLL, 1959!

BILLBOARD HONOR ROLL of HITS (Week Ending) April 18, 1959

 

THE NATIONAL TOP 30 HITS

THIS WEEK April 27, 1959 60 YEARS AGO

 

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The Honor Roll of Hits comprises the nation’s top tunes according to record sales and sheet sales, disk jockey and jukebox performances as determined by The Billboard’s weekly nationwide sales.

 


 

COME SOFTLY TO ME * No. 01

 


 

VENUS * No. 02

 


 

PINK SHOE LACES * No. 03

 


 

GUITAR BOOGIE SHUFFLE * No. 05

 


 

NEVER BE ANYONE ELSE BUT YOU * No. 10

 


 

IT’S JUST A MATTER OF TIME * No. 12

 


 

SINCE I DON’T HAVE YOU * No. 13

 


 

TRAGEDY * No. 18

 


 

SEA CRUISE * No. 20

 


 

KOOKIE KOOKIE (LEND ME YOUR COMB) * No. 28

 


 

 

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Billboard April 27, 1959

 

 

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WJBK 1500 FORMULA ’45 SURVEY SOUNDS: 04/21/1958

WJBK RADIO 1500 April 21, 1958

 

 

WJBK RADIO 15

61 YEARS AGO

 

APRIL 1958

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The WJBK FORMULA 45 hits was compiled, tabulated and produced by Radio 1500’s Bob Martin and Rosemary McGann.

This survey was tabulated overall by each record’s popularity and its appeal, sales, listener requests and record airplays based on the judgement of WJBK Radio.

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Previewed for the week of April 21, 1958

 

 

 

 

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WJBK RADIO 1500 April 21, 1958

 

 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

In Memory of George Griggs

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Above WJBK music chart courtesy of Mrs. Patti Griggs and the George L. Griggs estate

 

 


 

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A MOTOWN POSTER FLASHBACK: MOTOWN LEGENDS!


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MOTOWN LEGENDS

The Sound of Young America’ 

Gladys Knight & The Pips; Smokey Robinson & The Miracles; Martha & The Vandellas; Diana Ross & The Supremes; Marvin Gaye; The Marvelettes; The Jackson 5; Stevie Wonder; The Four Tops; The Temptations

(Poster courtesy The Black Art Depot)

 

 


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A 1967 SMOKEY ROBINSON DETROIT SUNDAY FEATURE

DETROIT FREE PRESS August 6, 1967

DETROIT FREE PRESS August 6, 1967

DETROIT FREE PRESS August 6, 1967

DETROIT FREE PRESS August 6, 1967

DETROIT FREE PRESS August 6, 1967

 

 

Sunday, August 6, 1967

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A MOTOWN MONDAY NEWS PRINT BACK-PAGE

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FRED WOLF: WXYZ DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD, ’65

DETROIT FREE PRESS August 31, 1965

 

Tuesday, August 31, 1965

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: WXYZ

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FRED WOLF: WXYZ DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD, ’65

DETROIT FREE PRESS September 2, 1965

 

 

Thursday, September 2, 1965

A DETROIT RADIO BACK-PAGE AD

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DETROIT FREE PRESS: WXYZ

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