Garvin was born in Harlem and raised by foster parents in the Bronx. He took piano lessons as a child.[2] In 1954, he helped form The Hearts, a female vocal group with whom he sang bass, played piano and wrote and arranged songs. Managed by neighbor Zelma "Zell" Sanders, The Hearts' first record "Lonely Nights" was issued on the Baton label in early 1955 and reached No. 8 on the BillboardR&B chart. He remained involved with the group as their pianist, arranger, musical director and (in their own word) "maestro" through various personnel changes during the 1950s, later explaining that he did so "mainly to meet girls".[4] Members of The Hearts later performed as The Jaynetts.
At the same time, Garvin became Sanders' main assistant at J&S Records, which she set up in 1956, and he was responsible for the label's typical full, bottom-heavy piano-laden arrangements. The label's greatest successes came with the duo Johnnie and Joe, whose biggest hit "Over the Mountain, Across the Sea" (#8 Pop and No. 3 R&B in 1957) was written by Garvin, who sang harmony vocals on the song and was credited as bandleader.[4][5] The duo comprised Garvin's friend Joe Rivers, and Sanders' daughter Johnnie.[2] The song was covered in 1963 by Bobby Vinton, whose version reached No. 21 on the Hot 100.[6]
Garvin's own recording career started in 1957, with "My Darling Dear".[7] In 1959, his vocal duet with Marie Knight as Marie and Rex on "I Can't Sit Down" reached No. 94 on the Billboard pop chart. He formed his own group Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers in 1961, releasing their first single "Go Little Willie"/"Emulsified", on Epic Records; the single was reissued two years later by Okeh. The group toured widely on the "Chitlin' Circuit".[2]
Although Garvin had little commercial success, he released a string of records through the 1960s in a variety of styles, including "Oh Yeah!" (on the Scatt label, an offshoot of J&S, 1962), "Soul Food" (on Keynote, 1963), "Sock It To 'Em J.B." (originally on the Like label, 1966), "I Gotta Go Now (Up on the Floor)" (Like, 1967), and "You Don't Need No Help (You Can Sock It to Yourself)" (WSJ Sound, 1969).[8] Several of these recordings have been anthologized in recent years, particularly on Northern Soul compilations.[4] "Sock It to 'Em J.B." had a double meaning, being a tribute to James Bond performed in the style of James Brown;[2] it was issued as a single in the UK as well as the U.S., and later was covered by British band The Specials on their album More Specials in 1980 (a cover which lent the song a potential triple meaning, as it was also a form of homage to drummer John Bradbury). Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers – comprising saxophonist Clayton Dunn and drummer Pete Holman, together with Garvin on keyboards – also released an album, Raw Funky Earth on the Tower label in 1968.[8][9] Their last record release was "Strange Happenings" on the Chieftain label in 1971.[7]
He left the Mighty Cravers and quit the music business in about 1975. He moved to Atlanta, Georgia, but continued to play occasional gigs until 1985.[2] In 1990, "Emulsified" was covered by Yo La Tengo on their album Fakebook. Garvin died in Atlanta in 2013, aged 73.[4]
References
^Profile, Ancestry.com. U.S. Public Records Index, Volume 1, Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
^ abcdefInterview, OtherSounds.com. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
^Profile, thedeadrockstarsclub.com. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
garvin, july, 1940, december, 2013, american, rhythm, blues, singer, songwriter, keyboard, player, arranger, writing, credits, include, 1957, chart, over, mountain, across, johnnie, 1966, recording, sock, later, recorded, specials, born, 1940, july, 1940harlem. Rex Garvin July 24 1940 1 2 December 2 2013 3 was an American rhythm and blues singer songwriter keyboard player and arranger His writing credits include the 1957 US chart hit Over the Mountain Across the Sea by Johnnie and Joe and his own 1966 recording Sock It To Em J B later recorded by The Specials Rex GarvinBorn 1940 07 24 July 24 1940Harlem New York City U S DiedDecember 2 2013 2013 12 02 aged 73 Atlanta Georgia U S GenresR amp B soulOccupation s singer songwriter arrangerInstrument s vocal keyboardsYears active1954 1975LabelsJ amp S othersLife and career EditGarvin was born in Harlem and raised by foster parents in the Bronx He took piano lessons as a child 2 In 1954 he helped form The Hearts a female vocal group with whom he sang bass played piano and wrote and arranged songs Managed by neighbor Zelma Zell Sanders The Hearts first record Lonely Nights was issued on the Baton label in early 1955 and reached No 8 on the Billboard R amp B chart He remained involved with the group as their pianist arranger musical director and in their own word maestro through various personnel changes during the 1950s later explaining that he did so mainly to meet girls 4 Members of The Hearts later performed as The Jaynetts At the same time Garvin became Sanders main assistant at J amp S Records which she set up in 1956 and he was responsible for the label s typical full bottom heavy piano laden arrangements The label s greatest successes came with the duo Johnnie and Joe whose biggest hit Over the Mountain Across the Sea 8 Pop and No 3 R amp B in 1957 was written by Garvin who sang harmony vocals on the song and was credited as bandleader 4 5 The duo comprised Garvin s friend Joe Rivers and Sanders daughter Johnnie 2 The song was covered in 1963 by Bobby Vinton whose version reached No 21 on the Hot 100 6 Garvin s own recording career started in 1957 with My Darling Dear 7 In 1959 his vocal duet with Marie Knight as Marie and Rex on I Can t Sit Down reached No 94 on the Billboard pop chart He formed his own group Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers in 1961 releasing their first single Go Little Willie Emulsified on Epic Records the single was reissued two years later by Okeh The group toured widely on the Chitlin Circuit 2 Although Garvin had little commercial success he released a string of records through the 1960s in a variety of styles including Oh Yeah on the Scatt label an offshoot of J amp S 1962 Soul Food on Keynote 1963 Sock It To Em J B originally on the Like label 1966 I Gotta Go Now Up on the Floor Like 1967 and You Don t Need No Help You Can Sock It to Yourself WSJ Sound 1969 8 Several of these recordings have been anthologized in recent years particularly on Northern Soul compilations 4 Sock It to Em J B had a double meaning being a tribute to James Bond performed in the style of James Brown 2 it was issued as a single in the UK as well as the U S and later was covered by British band The Specials on their album More Specials in 1980 a cover which lent the song a potential triple meaning as it was also a form of homage to drummer John Bradbury Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers comprising saxophonist Clayton Dunn and drummer Pete Holman together with Garvin on keyboards also released an album Raw Funky Earth on the Tower label in 1968 8 9 Their last record release was Strange Happenings on the Chieftain label in 1971 7 He left the Mighty Cravers and quit the music business in about 1975 He moved to Atlanta Georgia but continued to play occasional gigs until 1985 2 In 1990 Emulsified was covered by Yo La Tengo on their album Fakebook Garvin died in Atlanta in 2013 aged 73 4 References Edit Profile Ancestry com U S Public Records Index Volume 1 Provo UT USA Ancestry com Operations Inc Retrieved December 6 2013 a b c d e f Interview OtherSounds com Retrieved December 6 2013 Profile thedeadrockstarsclub com Retrieved January 10 2014 a b c d Rex Garvin at Black Cat Rockabilly The Hearts by J C Marion Whitburn Joel 2003 Top Pop Singles 1955 2002 1st ed Menomonee Falls Wisconsin Record Research Inc p 745 ISBN 0 89820 155 1 a b Rex Garvin discography at SoulfulKindaMusic com a b Rex Garvin discography at wangdangdula com Cover shot of Raw Funky Earth 3 bp blogspot com Retrieved July 21 2015 External links EditFull discography Rex Garvin discography at Discogs Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rex Garvin amp oldid 1113857253, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
