Bobby Marchan

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Bobby Marchan
Background information
Birth nameOscar James Gibson
Also known asBobby Fields
Born(1930-04-30)April 30, 1930
Youngstown, Ohio, United States
DiedDecember 5, 1999(1999-12-05) (aged 69)
Gretna, Louisiana, United States
GenresR&B, rock and roll
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter, bandleader, mc, female impersonator
Years active1940s–1980s

Bobby Marchan (born Oscar James Gibson, April 30, 1930 – December 5, 1999)

female impersonator. He was the key singer in the early lineup of Huey "Piano" Smith and His Clowns along with Gerri Hall
and Roosevelt Wright.

Biography

Born in

Ace labels, with Ace boss Johnny Vincent apparently offering him a contract under the misapprehension that Marchan was female and releasing his record "Give a Helping Hand" under the pseudonym Bobby Fields.[3]

From 1957, Marchan also toured with the Clowns, the band led by

Don't You Just Know It amongst others during this time had Marchan singing on them.[3]

In 1959, he left the Clowns and resumed his solo career, on

Volt, on the recommendation of Otis Redding. Two singles were released including a cover of Donnie Elbert's What Can I Do[6] before he soon moved on to the Dial label, where in 1965 he recorded his own song Get Down With It. The song was covered by Little Richard, and then reworked in 1971 by British glam rock band Slade as "Get Down and Get with It", giving the band their first chart hit.[3]

After moving to

MC. He regularly performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.[5] His final studio based work was in 1987 when he released a reworking of his biggest hit There Is Something On Your Mind on Al Bell's Edge label.[6]

He also set up his own production company, Manicure Productions, in the 1980s. In the 1990s his company Manicure was involved in hip hop music booking and promotion including Take Fo' Records bounce music artist DJ Jubilee.[5][7] Marchan was also involved with the formation of Cash Money Records.[4]

Marchan died from liver cancer in Gretna, Louisiana on December 5, 1999, aged 69.[3][1]

Chart hits

With Huey (Piano) Smith and the Clowns

  • "Rocking Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (Ace 530) 1957 (#5 R&B/#52 Pop)
  • "Don't You Just Just Know It" (Ace 545) 1958 (#4 R&B/#9 Pop)

Solo

  • "There's Something on Your Mind" (Fire 1022) 1960 (#1 R&B/#31 Pop) (Billboard)
  • "I've Got a Thing Going On" (Dial 3022) 1964 (#25 R&B #116 Pop) (Billboard)
  • "Shake Your Tambourine" (Cameo 429) 1966 (#14 R&B) (Billboard)

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 978-0313344237
    .
  2. ISBN 0-9614245-0-8
  3. ^ a b c d Biography by Jason Ankeny, Allmusic.com. Retrieved October 25, 2016
  4. ^ a b Hannusch, Jeff (1999), "Bobby Marchan, 69, noted N.O. R&B artist", Times-Picayune, retrieved November 27, 2009
  5. ^ a b c Leigh, Spencer (December 18, 1999), "Obituary: Bobby Marchan", The Independent, retrieved November 27, 2009
  6. ^ a b Rounce, Tony, sleeve notes for Bobby Marchan: Get Down With It: The Soul Sides. Kent CD (2011)
  7. ^ Strauss, Neil (May 28, 2000), "A Trendsetter On Rap's Fringe", The New York Times, retrieved November 27, 2009

External links

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