Bobby Marchan
Encyclopedia
Bobby Marchan was a well-respected American
rhythm and blues
bandleader
, MC, singer-performer, recording artist
, and female impersonator, who initially began performing in New Orleans nightclub
s, specifically the Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tijuana in the mid 1950s.
Marchan also toured with the band of Huey "Piano" Smith, sometimes performing as lead singer / bandleader and substituting vocally for Huey Smith (who reputedly often would stay in New Orleans to write and record while his namesake band "Huey Smith and the Clowns" played clubs and toured on the road). The touring band included James Booker
on piano.
One of Marchan's vocal performances with Huey Smith and the Clowns can be heard on the New Orleans R&B
recording
, "Don't You Just Know It", which was released in 1958.
Marchan also had a solo #1 hit on the national R&B charts in 1960 with the tune "There is Something on your Mind,"
a cover of a song performed by Big Jay McNeely
.
Marchan recorded for a handful of small soul labels such as Fire Records
, Volt
, Dial
, Cameo
, and Gamble
as well as Ace Records
, which had released the Clowns' records.
Marchan regularly performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
.
In the 1990s his company Manicure Productions was involved in hip hop music
booking and promotion including Take Fo' Records bounce music
artist DJ Jubilee.
He was involved with the formation of Cash Money Records
.
(as Bobby Marchan)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
bandleader
Bandleader
A bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
, MC, singer-performer, recording artist
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and female impersonator, who initially began performing in New Orleans nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s, specifically the Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tijuana in the mid 1950s.
Marchan also toured with the band of Huey "Piano" Smith, sometimes performing as lead singer / bandleader and substituting vocally for Huey Smith (who reputedly often would stay in New Orleans to write and record while his namesake band "Huey Smith and the Clowns" played clubs and toured on the road). The touring band included James Booker
James Booker
James Carroll Booker III was a jazz, New Orleans rhythm and blues and soul musician born in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Biography:...
on piano.
One of Marchan's vocal performances with Huey Smith and the Clowns can be heard on the New Orleans R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
, "Don't You Just Know It", which was released in 1958.
Marchan also had a solo #1 hit on the national R&B charts in 1960 with the tune "There is Something on your Mind,"
There's Something on Your Mind
"There's Something on Your Mind " is a 1960 novelty song by Bobby Marchan. The single was Marchan's most successful release on both the R&B and pop singles chart...
a cover of a song performed by Big Jay McNeely
Big Jay McNeely
Big Jay McNeely is an American rhythm and blues saxophonist.-Biography:...
.
Marchan recorded for a handful of small soul labels such as Fire Records
Fire Records
Fire Records was an independent record label set up in 1959 by Bobby Robinson . Among others, it released records by Lightnin' Hopkins, Elmore James and Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup.-Selected discography:...
, Volt
Stax Records
Stax Records is an American record label, originally based in Memphis, Tennessee.Founded in 1957 as Satellite Records, the name Stax Records was adopted in 1961. The label was a major factor in the creation of the Southern soul and Memphis soul music styles, also releasing gospel, funk, jazz, and...
, Dial
Dial Records (1964)
A second Dial Records label was a New Orleans soul label formed by Nashville-based song publisher/plugger/producer Buddy Killen in 1964.This label was formed specifically so Killen could record perhaps his best-known discovery, soul singer Joe Tex...
, Cameo
Cameo-Parkway Records
Cameo-Parkway Records was the parent company of Cameo Records and Parkway Records, which were major American Philadelphia-based record labels from 1956 and 1958 to 1967...
, and Gamble
Philadelphia International Records
Philadelphia International Records is a record label founded by writer-producers, Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff in 1971. It was famous for showcasing the sub-genre of Philadelphia soul music and released a string of worldwide hits during the decade.-History:...
as well as Ace Records
Ace Records (US)
Ace Records was a record label that was started in August 1955 in Jackson, Mississippi by Johnny Vincent, with Teem Records as its budget subsidiary. Ace also had the Vin label. Its records were distributed independently until 1962 when a distribution arrangement was set up with Vee-Jay Records....
, which had released the Clowns' records.
Marchan regularly performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, often known as Jazz Fest, is an annual celebration of the music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana...
.
In the 1990s his company Manicure Productions was involved in hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
booking and promotion including Take Fo' Records bounce music
Bounce music
Bounce music is an energetic style of New Orleans hip hop music which is said to have originated as early as the late 1980s, but is typically believed to have begun with the 1991 single "Where Dey At" by MC T.Tucker and DJ Irv...
artist DJ Jubilee.
He was involved with the formation of Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records
Cash Money Records is a record label founded by brothers Bryan "Birdman" Williams and Ronald "Slim" Williams. Today it operates as a subsidiary of Universal Music Group, and is distributed by Universal Republic Records as of 2011...
.
Notable chart successes
(with Huey (Piano) Smith and The Clowns)- "Rocking Pneumonia and The Boogie Woogle Flu" (Ace 530) 1957 (#5 R&B/#52 Pop)
- "Don't You Just Just Know It" (Ace 545) 1958 (#4 R&B/#9 Pop)
(as Bobby Marchan)
- "There's Something On Your Mind" (Fire 1022) 1960 (#1 R&B/#31 Pop)
- "I've Got A Thing Going On" (Dial 3022) 1964 (#116 Pop)
- "Shake Your Tambourine" (Cameo 429) 1966 (#14 R&B)
External links
- [ B Marchan short Bio & discography from allmusic]
- NOLA Picayune article / obituary by Jeff Hannusch
- Bobby Marchan by Queer Music Heritage
- Bobby Marchan Biography
- Recordings: The Very Best of Bobby Marchan with audio samples
- Bobby Marchan Discography