Marvin & Johnny
One of the first notable rhythm & blues duos, Marvin & Johnny weren't so much a permanent act as Marvin Phillips (b. Oct. 23, 1931) and several partners that he would name "Johnny." Although Emory Perry was the most frequent of these, Phillips also duetted with Jesse Belvin (making number two in the R&B chart, as Jesse & Marvin, with "Dream Girl"), Carl Green, and others, though Phillips called Perry "my main Johnny." Whoever was singing, Marvin & Johnny were significant, if not major, figures in the transition from West Coast jump blues to hotter sax-driven R&B sides that began to approach rock & roll; they were also forerunners of doo wop with their appealingly grainy harmonies and occasional sly sense of humor. Recording for Specialty and Modern, they had a couple of Top Ten R&B hits, "Baby Doll" (1953) and "Tick Tock"/"Cherry Pie" (1954), and also issued several other strong singles, sometimes in a sort of updated Louis Jordan style. They faded after the mid-'50s, although they would also record for Aladdin and several other small Los Angeles labels.
© Richie Unterberger /TiVo
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Discography
10 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Marvin & Johnny - Music History
Soul - Released by Marvin & Johnny on 18 May 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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KO KO Mo (I Love You So)
Rock - Released by RPM records on 23 Feb 1955
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Smack Smack
Rock - Released by Milestones Records on 16 May 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Rock 'N' Roll Hits Of The 50's
Pop - Released by PnR on 1 Jan 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo