Marv Johnson

Marvin Earl Johnson (October 15, 1938 – May 16, 1993)

Biography Johnson was born in Detroit. but he began his singing career with a doo-wop group, the Junior Serenaders, in the mid-1950s. The fledgling label did not have national distribution, so the song was released by United Artists Records. In the United Kingdom, both "I Love the Way You Love" and "Ain't Gonna Be That Way" made the UK chart. "I Love the Way You Love" reached number 9 in the US. Johnson had his final US Top 40 single in 1960 with "(You've Got To) Move Two Mountains". It also sold a million copies, giving him his second gold disc.

Johnson had many hits in Australia, with a total of eight top 40 hits, including three chart-toppers. "Come to Me" was released in Australia on EMI's London Records (as were most of his Australian releases) and reached number 16 on the 2UE Top 40 in Sydney. "You Got What It Takes" was his biggest Australian hit, topping the national charts for over 16 weeks in 1960. After "I Love the Way You Love" became a national Top 10 hit in mid-1960, Johnson flew to Australia to meet the entrepreneur Lee Gordon, the creator of the radio program Big Show, and performed "Twist It Up" on the September Big Show. At the top of the bill were Bobby Rydell, Chubby Checker, and James Darren with Jackie Wilson, Johnson, and Barry Mann. They were supported by Johnny O'Keefe, the Delltones and Col Joye. Lonnie Lee also appeared on a Lee Gordon Australian tour in 1960 with Marv, Bobby Tyrell, and The Everly Brothers.

Johnson's songs "Happy Days" and "Merry-Go-Round" (both written by Berry Gordy) were his last chart successes for the United Artists label. Although they did not reach the US Top 40, they performed well on the R&B charts, peaking at number 7 and number 26, respectively, in 1961.

However, after early 1961 (and after nine consecutive chart hits) Johnson's records stopped making the charts altogether. He also toured the UK with Martha Reeves & the Vandellas.

Johnson remained with Motown, working on sales and promotion, in the 1970s.

Johnson continued singing into the 1990s, releasing a solo album on the London-based Motorcity Records label, owned by Northern soul DJ and Motown lover Ian Levine. Johnson died from complications of a stroke on May 16 that same year, in Columbia, South Carolina, at the age of 54.

Discography Albums Marvelous Marv Johnson (1960) – United Artists More Marv Johnson (1961) – United Artists I Believe (1966) – United Artists I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose (1969) UK TMG 680 (Re-issued TMG1052) – Motown The Very Best – Motor City Recordings (1995) – Carlton Home Entertainment I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose – The Complete Motown Recordings 1964–1971 (2011) – Kent Soul (Ace Records)

Singles Year Single(Songwriters) Peak Chart PositionsLabel US US R&B 1959 "Come to Me"(Berry Gordy, Jr. / Marv Johnson) 30 6 —Tamla (Motown)United Artists "I'm Coming Home"(Berry Gordy, Jr.) 82 23 —1960 "You Got What It Takes"(Berry Gordy, Jr. / Gwen Gordy / Tyran Carlo) 10 2 7 "I Love the Way You Love"(Berry Gordy, Jr. / Mike Ossman / Al Abrams / John O'Den) 9 2 35 "Ain't Gonna Be That Way" (A-Side)(Berry Gordy, Jr. / Marv Johnson) 74 — 50 "All the Love I've Got" (B-Side)(Janie Bradford / Berry Gordy, Jr. / Brian Holland) 63 — — "(You've Got To) Move Two Mountains"(Berry Gordy, Jr.) 20 12 — 1961 "Happy Days"(Berry Gordy, Jr. / T. McKnight) 58 7 — "Merry-Go-Round"(Berry Gordy, Jr.) 61 26 —"How Can We Tell Him?" — — —"Oh, Mary" — — —"Johnny, One Stop" — — —1962"With All That's in Me" — — —"Let Yourself Go" — — —"Keep Tellin' Yourself" — — —1963"Another Tear Falls" — — —"Come On and Stop" (Bert Russell) — — —"Congratulations, You've Hurt Me Again" — — —"The Man Who Don't Believe in Love" — — —1965"Why Do You Want to Let Me Go?"(Berry Gordy, Jr.) — — —Gordy (Motown)1966"I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You)"(Clarence Paul / Morris Broadnax) — 39 — 1969"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose"(James Dean / Marv Johnson / William Weatherspoon) — — 10"I Miss You Baby (How I Miss You)" (UK reissue) — — 25Tamla Motown1970"So Glad You Chose Me" (UK only) — — —1988"By Hook or by Crook" (UK only) — — —Motorcity1989"Run Like a Rabbit" (UK only) — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.