Marvin Yancy

Marvin Jerome Yancy (May 31, 1950 – March 22, 1985) was an American gospel musician, pastor and Grammy-winning record producer, and former pastor of Fountain of Life Baptist Church. He started his music career, in 1971, with The Independents, who were an American R&B vocal group. His lone solo album, Heavy Load, was released on January 1, 1985, by Nashboro Records, and it placed at No. 4 on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums chart.

Early life Yancy was born on May 31, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois, as Marvin Jerome Yancy, to Reverend Robert Yancy Sr., who was the pastor of Fountain of Life Baptist Church, at the time of his death in 1977, and his mother, Anne. This was when Marvin stepped into the pastoral role of the church that he led until his death. Yancy was a graduate of Cooley Vocational High School and went on to graduate from Moody Bible Institute along with The Chicago Bible Institute. and this placed at No. 4 on the Billboard magazine Gospel Albums.

Personal life

Yancy's first marriage was to Natalie Cole on July 31, 1976. but this marriage ended in divorce in 1980. He was married a second time in 1983, to Saundra Renaire Mays, who was in the choir of his church at the time. He had one child from this marriage, a daughter Brandy Raquel Yancy. Also from a previous relationship, he had a son named Marvin Jerome Yancy Jr.

Marvin Sr. suffered a minor stroke a month before his death from a heart attack on March 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois. He was buried at Lincoln Cemetery in Blue Island.

Discography + List of selected studio albums, with selected chart positions Title Album details Peak chart positions USGosHeavy Load Released: January 1, 1985

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