Margie Evans

Margie Evans (born Marjorie Ann Johnson; July 17, 1939 – March 19, 2021) was an American blues and gospel singer and songwriter.

In addition to her musicianship, Evans was noted as a motivational speaker and rights activist, as well as a promoter of the legacy of blues music.

Life and career Marjorie Ann Johnson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, in 1939. In 1958, she moved to Los Angeles. She initially sang as a backing vocalist with Billy Ward between 1958 and 1964, before joining the Ron Marshall Orchestra between 1964 and 1969. She then successfully auditioned to join Johnny Otis Band. During her four-year stay there, she performed on The Johnny Otis Show Live at Monterey and Cuttin' Up albums. In addition to her recording and performing duties, Evans used her influence to help set up the Southern California Blues Society to help promote the art form through education and sponsorship.

Also sandwiched between these hits, in November 1975, Evans appeared on German television filmed at the Berlin-based Jazz Tage concert with Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Bo Diddley and James Booker. Using Bobby Bland as her record producer and part-time song writing partner, Evans co-wrote the song "Soon As the Weather Breaks", which reached number 76 (R&B) for Bland in 1980.

In 1980, Evans performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival and Long Beach Blues Festival, repeating the feat at the latter a year later. Her touring saw Evans take part in the American Folk Blues Festivals in 1981, 1982 and 1985. In 1983, Evans was granted the Keepin' the Blues Alive Award by the Blues Foundation.

She died on March 19, 2021, aged 81.

Discography

Albums Year Title Record label Producer 1982 Mistreated Woman L & R RecordsHorst Lippmann and Margie Evans 1983 Another Blues Day L & R Records Horst Lippmann 1990 Too Late Rising Sun Marvic Music Co. François Love and Margie Evans 1996 Blues Classics L & R Records Horst Lippmann 1996 Drowning in the Sea of Love Terra Nova Records Robert Susz

Singles Year Title Record label Producer 1973 "Twenty Nine Ways" Yambo Records Willie Dixon 1973 "When I Make Love" Yambo Records Willie Dixon 1973 "Good Feeling" United Artists Monk Higgins 1977 "Good Thing Queen Part I" ICA Recording Group Monk Higgins 1979 "You Are To Me" ICA Recording Group Monk Higgins and Al Bell

Collaborations and compilation albums Year Title Artist Record label Producer Vocals on 1969 Cuttin' Up Johnny Otis Show Epic Johnny Otis Three tracks 1970 Live at Monterey! Johnny Otis Show Epic Johnny Otis One track 1981 American Folk Blues Festival Various Artists L & R Records Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau Four tracks 1982 American Folk Blues Festival Various Artists L & R Records Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau Three tracks 1982 American Folk Blues Festival Various Artists Amiga Records Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau One track 1985 American Folk Blues Festival Various Artists L & R Records Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau One track 1985 We Shall Walk Through The Valley in Peace Rickey Grundy & Williams Family L & R Records Horst Lippmann and Margie Evans Eight tracks 1989 Blues for the Lady Philipp Fankhauser Funk House Blues Prod. Philipp Fankhauser Four tracks 1994 Thun – San Francisco Philipp Fankhauser Funk House Blues Prod. Philipp Fankhauser and H. Raymondaz Three tracks 2016 Unplugged – Live at Mühle Hunziken Philipp Fankhauser Funk House Blues Prod. Marco Jencarelli Nine tracks

Music catalogue / compositions Title BMI Work # Composer Publisher "Another Margie's Boogie" # 47034 Margie Evans "Blue Blue Blues" # 127657 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "Chilly Waters" # 207852 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "Come To Me" # 232686 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "Don't Throw No Stones At Me" # 329426 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "European Holiday" # 385217 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "Giving Up The Street For Love" # 477042 Margie Evans, Robert Calvin Bland "God The First Good Thing Man" # 485627 Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland, Frank Lucas Alvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc. "Going Away Blues" # 487607 Margie Evans, David Clark "Good Thing Queen" # 485627 Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland, Frank Lucas Alvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc.. "Hurry Sundown" # 599375 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "I Got The Restless Blues" # 625566 Margie Evans "I'll Be There" # 636988 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "I'm On My Way" # 663001 Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland, Isbell Alvertis Alvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc.. "I've Been Buked" # 681815 Margie Evans "ICA Special" # 699154 Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland Alvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc.. "It Ain't Nothing But Common Sense" # 734905 Margie Evans "It's A Shame" # 734905 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "Let The Telephone Ring" # 861502 Margie Evans, Cash McCall "Loser" # 908825 Margie Evans, Cash McCall All information from the database of BMI.com