Marvelous Marv: Motown’s First Recording Artist

Dana Spiardi — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 04:00:53 +0000

When I was 6 years old, the lady who lived in the apartment above ours gave me a stack of old 45s she no longer wanted. One of my favorites from the bunch was, and still is, Marv Johnson’s “Merry Go Round.” Ever heard of him? Well, you should have, because he was the first artist to release a record on the label that would come to be known as Motown.

In the late 1950s, up-and-coming music mogul Berry Gordy was on the verge of forming his new Tamla record label when he discovered Marv performing at a carnival. Impressed with the young man’s talents as a singer, songwriter and pianist, he signed Johnson, whose May 1959 hit “Come to Me” became Tamla Records’ first single.

Tamla was incorporated as “Motown Record Corporation” on April 14, 1960.

Between 1959 and 1961, Marv issued nine Billboard Hot 100 singles including two Top 10s. He and Gordy co-wrote four hit songs. The talented singer died of a stroke on May 16, 1993.

Thanks, Ruth M., wherever you are. You turned me on to some great music with those records of yours! Now, here’s “Merry Go Round.”

© Dana Spiardi, Oct 15, 2014

Marvin Says: Heal Thyself

Dana Spiardi — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 02:43:43 +0000

Singer/songwriter Marvin Gaye was one of Motown’s greatest recording artists, releasing two groundbreaking concept albums in the early 1970s: “What’s Going On” and “Sexual Healing.”

After seeing the soul man’s large collection of pornography, Rolling Stone critic David Ritz suggested that Gaye needed some “sexual healing.” This comment inspired the title of one of Marvin’s biggest hits. He and Odell Brown are credited as the song’s writers, with Ritz receiving a “special thanks” credit. But that wasn’t enough for Ritz. He allegedly wanted $10,000 for his contribution, and ended up suing Marvin for songwriting credit. The singer was shot and killed by his father on April 1, 1984, a day before his 35th birthday, so the suit was never settled. Eventually, Ritz did end up getting partial writing credit.

“Sexual Healing,” released in 1982, is No. 233 on the Rolling Stone list of its 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

Here’s Marvin gettin’ some healing:

Motown – The Hip Quotient

Marvelous Marv: Motown’s First Recording Artist

Marvin Says: Heal Thyself