From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Wed Oct 23, 2002  1:17 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Marvin Phillips
 
MARVIN PHILLIPS (By Shaun Mather)

Born 23 October, 1931, Guthrie, Oklahoma

Singer-songwriter-saxophonist, Marvin Phillips was one half of the great
doo-wop duo Marvin & Johnny and was also Long Tall Marvin who recorded
a few tasty r'n'b rockers for Modern Records. His start in the business came
in the late '40s when he played alto sax for Modern artist, Richard Lewis. The
Los Angeles scene was an incestuous one in the '50s and Lewis' band soon
included Emory Perry and Jesse Belvin.
Phillips formed his own band and named them Marvin Phillips & his Men From
Mars. He recorded for Specialty in 1952, one single as himself (Wine Woogie/
Old Man's Blues) and a single with Jesse Belvin. The Belvin single, Dream Girl,
became a big hit on the r&b charts (# 2) and was issued as by Jesse & Marvin.
The following year, with Belvin having been drafted, Specialty boss Art Rupe
arranged for Marvin to team up with Carl Green, calling them Marvin & Johnny.
Their debut, Baby Doll went # 9 R&B, helped by the sax of Emory Perry, who
was to be the next and longest running Johnny. After a couple more sessions
with Specialty the duo moved to Modern and were rewarded when their debut
Tick Tock/Cherry Pie proved to be a double-sided smash. Further releases
followed as did a further stint at Specialty (Yak Yak Woman is great) as well
as Aladdin and some smaller labels. In '56 and '57, Marvin recorded solo for
Modern Records as either himself or the alias Long Tall Marvin (Have Mercy
Miss Percy is superb). The excellent Flipped Out CD on Ace includes a Hunter
Hancock radio ad which advertises a gig that night featuring Marvin & Johnny
and Long Tall Marvin, so he was working hard for his money.
Still in excellent voice, it was a thrill to see him at the Rhythm Riot a year
or so ago.

Recommended listening:
Flipped Out - Ace 385 (UK) / Specialty SPCD 2176-2 (US). 26 tracks.
Cherry Pie : The Original Modern Recordings - Ace 509. 28 tracks.