Post by Diamond Girl on Nov 30, 2005 19:46:16 GMT -5
Best remembered for the Top Ten smashes "You Got What It Takes" and "I Love The Way You Love," Marv Johnson was also a influential figure in the early history of Motown Records. Marvin Earl Johnson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on October 15, 1938, and was raised in a musical environment that mixed the gospel music of the Baptist church with the jump-jazz of Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. At thirteen, he began singing with a group called the Serenaders, playing carnivals and fairs. In 1958, he cut his first sides, "My Baby-O" and "Once Upon a Time"; the single failed to sell, but the recording session resulted in a meeting with songwriter and eventual record producer Berry Gordy.
After Johnson played his original song "Come to Me" for Gordy and his future wife Raynoma, the couple chose Johnson as the first artist for their fledgling record label, Tamla. Because the new label didn't have distribution outside of Detroit, "Come to Me" (credited to Gordy and Johnson) was released nationally by United Artists, and rose to No. 6 on the R&B charts and No. 30 on the pop charts. Gordy soon lost direct control of his first discovery after United Artists signed Johnson directly, but continued as the singer's manager. Johnson also toured with Motown acts such as the Miracles in addition to appearing on Alan Freed's rock 'n roll revues and media venues such as American Bandstand, and joined early package tours and stage revues where he shared bills with his idols Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson.
Johnson's second single didn't sell well, but his third, 1959's "You've Got What It Takes," exploded onto the charts, becoming a Top Ten hit and earning a gold record. The 1960 follow-up "I Love the Way You Love" also landed in the Top Ten; among his subsequent singles, "You've Got To Move Two Mountains" was a more pop flavored effort that reached the Top 20, while "Happy Days" got to number seven on the R&B charts late in 1960. "Merry-Go-Round," issued in early 1961, was Johnson's last chart success.
In 1965, with the British invasion in full swing, Johnson's contract was not renewed by United Artists; he finally came "home" to Motown, joining the Gordy label. He earned a British gold record with "I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" for Tamla in 1968. He later worked in sales and promotion for Motown, and also wrote songs for Tyrone Davis and Johnny Taylor. Johnson's recording career ended in the late 1960's, but he never stopped performing, and remained active on stage into the 1990's.
Marvin Earl Johnson passed on May 16, 1993.