Hank Marvin
Encyclopedia
Hank Brian Marvin is an English guitarist, best known as the lead guitarist for The Shadows
. The group, which primarily performed instrumental
s, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard
. Marvin has a distinctive guitar sound and appearance, primarily using a clean sound with very distinctive echo
and vibrato
giving a dreamy effect.
, England. As a child, he played the banjo
and piano
. After he heard one of Buddy Holly
's songs, he decided to also learn the guitar.
He chose the name Hank Marvin while launching his music career. The name is an amalgamation of his childhood nickname of Hank, which he used to differentiate himself from a number of friends also named Brian, and Marvin Rainwater
, a country and western singer.
When Marvin was 16, he travelled with his Rutherford Grammar School
friend Bruce Welch
to London, where he met Johnny Foster, Cliff Richard's manager, at The 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho
. Foster was looking for a guitarist for Richard's upcoming tour of the U.K., and Marvin agreed to join as long as there was also a place for Welch. Foster had actually been looking for guitarist Tony Sheridan
at the Two 2i's, but by chance he encountered Marvin. Marvin and Welch joined The Drifters
, as Cliff Richard's group was then known, beginning their careers as professional guitar players.
Marvin met Cliff Richard for the first time at a nearby Soho tailor's shop, where Richard was having a fitting for a pink stage jacket. They had their first rehearsal with him at his parents' home in Cheshunt
.
Marvin lived in the hills above Perth
, Western Australia
from 1986 but has since relocated to a luxury apartment in East Perth. He is a committed Jehovah's Witness. When not relaxing at his home in Perth, Marvin runs a successful recording studio: Nivram studios (part of Sh-Boom studios in Tiverton street owned by Trevor Spencer and Gary Taylor) where he is happy(?) to receive correspondence from die-hard Shadows fans.
In the UK, his name is often humourously recognised as cockney rhyming slang
for the word "starving".
in the UK, serial number 34346, finished in Fiesta Red, with gold hardware. This guitar, with its tremolo arm
, contributed to the Shadows' sound. The guitar was imported from America by Cliff Richard.
Marvin almost immediately customised this guitar's red paintwork with three simple cheap aluminium sticky back transfers or decals of his initials viz: "H", "B", "M", bought from a local hardware shop in London and simply stuck them on top.
Marvin's original sound was achieved with this Stratocaster, a Vox
amplifier (initially an AC15 and later on an AC30 models) and a tape echo machine Meazzi Echomatic that was shown to him by Joe Brown
.
He later used a Vox-badged Meazzi, then a Binson
Echorec (Drum) Echo Machine and finally another tape-loop machine, the Roland
301 Space Echo, before moving on to electronic units like the Behringer
Delay Machine.
In 1959, Marvin and Richard searched through a Fender catalogue to find the model of guitar played by James Burton
, Ricky Nelson
's lead guitarist. They assumed that Burton's guitar was a Stratocaster, because the most expensive guitar in the brochure was a gold-plated example with a red body and a one-piece Maple neck. Burton, however, played the Telecaster, and the Stratocaster was a relatively new model, available only to special order.
Richard made the arrangements and the chosen guitar was imported specially for Marvin, who used it between 1959 and 1961. It remained Richard's property and was returned to him when Jennings Musical Instruments
outfitted the whole group with matching Fiesta Red Fender guitars, which featured necks with rosewood fingerboards. Marvin continued borrowing the original Stratocaster for recording.
This Fender Stratocaster guitar was subsequently resprayed in a Black-gloss finish and was used by Marvin during the 1970s and early 1980s Shadows' studio albums and concerts. By the mid-80s Marvin reverted to a third Red Fiesta Fender Stratocaster guitar for studio and concerts. Marvin subsequently gave the Black Fender Stratocaster to his son Ben Marvin who had it resprayed back to its original sunburst finish.
, a guitar strap, and a Bigsby-styled tremolo
unit. They used the Hank Marvin signature tremolo unit on several of their own Vox guitars. Marvin also worked with Jim Burns, head of the Burns London
guitar company, to develop his own signature model, known as the "Burns Marvin".
The "Marvin" appeared in 1964 and a 12-string version called the "Double Six" appeared a little earlier. In 1967, the Burns London company was taken over by the American piano-maker, Baldwin Piano Company
, and partly as a result of the takeover, the fewer-than-400 original Burns-made Marvins are now highly sought after. The revived Burns company made a limited reissue of 2004 signature Marvin guitars with a certificate of authenticity, signed by Marvin. Those instruments were promoted on the Shadows' 2004 Final Tour. Marvin's original Burns guitars had been stolen in 1972 and never appeared again.
Marvin influenced many guitarists, including Pete Townshend
, Mark Knopfler
and John Fogerty
. Although neither Marvin nor the Shadows were ever well known in the United States, despite several appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, Marvin is listed by Frank Zappa
as an influence on the first Mothers of Invention album. Afrikaa Bambaataa cited the group's first UK number one single "Apache" as a big influence, though it is likely that Bambaattaa was referring to the cover of "Apache" by The Incredible Bongo Band, which was popular among early hip hop DJs, due to the extended bongo break.
In Canada, Cliff Richard and the Shadows met with success, especially 1961-1965 when they enjoyed several top 10 hits. Canadian guitarists Randy Bachman
and Neil Young
have credited Marvin's guitar work as influential. Carlos Santana
's nickname in his formative years was Apache because it was one of the earliest pieces he learned to play.
, a vocal harmony trio which failed to appeal to many Shadows fans or to contemporary music fans. They reverted to being The Shadows in 1973, for the Rockin' with Curly Leads
album.
As a writer, Marvin was solely responsible for "Driftin'", "Geronimo", "Spider Juice" (his daughter's name for orange juice), "I want you to Want Me" for The Shadows, and "The Day I Met Marie". As co-writer with Bruce Welch, Brian Bennett, and John Rostill, he wrote other hits, mainly for Cliff Richard, including "I Could Easily Fall in Love with You" and "In the Country".
In 1988, Marvin collaborated with French keyboardist and composer Jean Michel Jarre
on the track "London Kid", which appeared on Jarre's "Revolutions" album and taking a guest role in the Frenchman's giant Destination Docklands
concert at the Royal Victoria Dock
. Jarre stated that the Shadows' success had a huge influence on him and his decision to devote the majority of his career to instrumental music.
In 1992, Duane Eddy guested on Marvin's album Into the Light on the track "Pipeline".
Marvin and the Shadows reformed for a 2004 Final Tour, which was so successful that a 2005 European tour was also organised.
Marvin dueted twice with French award-winning guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel
, on his 2007 and 2010 albums. Marvin also participated to one of his dvds and wrote the foreword for Danel's book about the Fender Stratocaster
.
While his Shadows colleagues Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett accepted the honour of an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE
) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours
List for services to music, Marvin declined, citing "personal reasons".
1956–1957 – The Railroaders (#1)
1956–1957 – The Railroaders (#2)
1958 – The Vipers (aka The Vipers Skiffle group)
1958 – The Five Chesternuts
In addition to the above, Marvin also plays guitar on the following tracks of library music recorded for Bruton Music:
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
. The group, which primarily performed instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
s, was formed as a backing band for vocalist Cliff Richard
Cliff Richard
Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
. Marvin has a distinctive guitar sound and appearance, primarily using a clean sound with very distinctive echo
Echo (phenomenon)
In audio signal processing and acoustics, an echo is a reflection of sound, arriving at the listener some time after the direct sound. Typical examples are the echo produced by the bottom of a well, by a building, or by the walls of an enclosed room and an empty room. A true echo is a single...
and vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
giving a dreamy effect.
Personal life
He was born Brian Robson Rankin on 28 October 1941 in Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, England. As a child, he played the banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. After he heard one of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's songs, he decided to also learn the guitar.
He chose the name Hank Marvin while launching his music career. The name is an amalgamation of his childhood nickname of Hank, which he used to differentiate himself from a number of friends also named Brian, and Marvin Rainwater
Marvin Rainwater
Marvin Karlton Rainwater , better known as Marvin Rainwater, is an American country and rockabilly singer and songwriter who had several hits during the late 1950s, including "Gonna Find Me a Bluebird" and "Whole Lotta Woman"...
, a country and western singer.
When Marvin was 16, he travelled with his Rutherford Grammar School
Grammar school
A grammar school is one of several different types of school in the history of education in the United Kingdom and some other English-speaking countries, originally a school teaching classical languages but more recently an academically-oriented secondary school.The original purpose of mediaeval...
friend Bruce Welch
Bruce Welch
Bruce Welch OBE, is an English guitarist, songwriter, producer and singer, best known as a member of The Shadows.-Biography:...
to London, where he met Johnny Foster, Cliff Richard's manager, at The 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho
Soho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
. Foster was looking for a guitarist for Richard's upcoming tour of the U.K., and Marvin agreed to join as long as there was also a place for Welch. Foster had actually been looking for guitarist Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan
Tony Sheridan , is an English rock and roll singer-songwriter and guitarist...
at the Two 2i's, but by chance he encountered Marvin. Marvin and Welch joined The Drifters
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
, as Cliff Richard's group was then known, beginning their careers as professional guitar players.
Marvin met Cliff Richard for the first time at a nearby Soho tailor's shop, where Richard was having a fitting for a pink stage jacket. They had their first rehearsal with him at his parents' home in Cheshunt
Cheshunt
Cheshunt is a town in Hertfordshire, England with a population of around 52,000 according to the United Kingdom's 2001 Census. It is a dormitory town and part of the Greater London Urban Area and London commuter belt served by Cheshunt railway station...
.
Marvin lived in the hills above Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
from 1986 but has since relocated to a luxury apartment in East Perth. He is a committed Jehovah's Witness. When not relaxing at his home in Perth, Marvin runs a successful recording studio: Nivram studios (part of Sh-Boom studios in Tiverton street owned by Trevor Spencer and Gary Taylor) where he is happy(?) to receive correspondence from die-hard Shadows fans.
In the UK, his name is often humourously recognised as cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang
Rhyming slang is a form of phrase construction in the English language and is especially prevalent in dialectal British English from the East End of London; hence the alternative name, Cockney rhyming slang...
for the word "starving".
Equipment
Marvin played and owned the first Fender StratocasterFender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
in the UK, serial number 34346, finished in Fiesta Red, with gold hardware. This guitar, with its tremolo arm
Tremolo arm
A whammy bar, tremolo arm/bar, or vibrato arm/bar is a component of a guitar, used to add vibrato to the sound by changing the tension of the strings, typically at the bridge or tailpiece...
, contributed to the Shadows' sound. The guitar was imported from America by Cliff Richard.
Marvin almost immediately customised this guitar's red paintwork with three simple cheap aluminium sticky back transfers or decals of his initials viz: "H", "B", "M", bought from a local hardware shop in London and simply stuck them on top.
Marvin's original sound was achieved with this Stratocaster, a Vox
Vox (musical equipment)
Vox is a musical equipment manufacturer which is most famous for making the Vox AC30 guitar amplifier, the Vox Continental electric organ, and a series of innovative but commercially unsuccessful electric guitars and bass guitars...
amplifier (initially an AC15 and later on an AC30 models) and a tape echo machine Meazzi Echomatic that was shown to him by Joe Brown
Joe Brown (singer)
Joe Brown, MBE is an English entertainer.He has worked as a rock and roll singer and guitarist for more than five decades. He was a stage and television performer in the late 1950s and a UK recording star in the early 1960s...
.
He later used a Vox-badged Meazzi, then a Binson
Binson
Binson was an early manufacturer of echo machines. Unlike most other analog echo machines, they used an analog magnetic drum recorder instead of a tape loop. Their most famous product was the Binson Echorec....
Echorec (Drum) Echo Machine and finally another tape-loop machine, the Roland
Roland
Roland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
301 Space Echo, before moving on to electronic units like the Behringer
Behringer
Behringer is an audio equipment company founded by Uli Behringer in 1989, in Willich, Germany. Behringer was listed as the 14th largest manufacturer of music products in 2007. Behringer is a multi-national group of companies, with direct marketing presence in 10 countries or territories and a...
Delay Machine.
In 1959, Marvin and Richard searched through a Fender catalogue to find the model of guitar played by James Burton
James Burton
James Burton is an American guitarist. A member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame since 2001 , Burton has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame...
, Ricky Nelson
Ricky Nelson
Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
's lead guitarist. They assumed that Burton's guitar was a Stratocaster, because the most expensive guitar in the brochure was a gold-plated example with a red body and a one-piece Maple neck. Burton, however, played the Telecaster, and the Stratocaster was a relatively new model, available only to special order.
Richard made the arrangements and the chosen guitar was imported specially for Marvin, who used it between 1959 and 1961. It remained Richard's property and was returned to him when Jennings Musical Instruments
Jennings Musical Instruments
Jennings Musical Instruments is a manufacturer of musical instruments, notably the original owner of the Vox brand. The company was founded by Thomas Walter Jennings.-History:...
outfitted the whole group with matching Fiesta Red Fender guitars, which featured necks with rosewood fingerboards. Marvin continued borrowing the original Stratocaster for recording.
Second (and third) Fender Stratocaster Guitar(s)
In 1970 to facilitate a new Shadows' type guitar sound, Marvin and bandmate John Farrar bought electric and two Martin acoustic guitars. Farrar purchased a Fender thinline Telecaster with a Bigsby tremolo arm whereas Marvin purchased a new Fender Stratocaster guitar with a sunburst finish with non-Fender custom pickups and a large headstock.This Fender Stratocaster guitar was subsequently resprayed in a Black-gloss finish and was used by Marvin during the 1970s and early 1980s Shadows' studio albums and concerts. By the mid-80s Marvin reverted to a third Red Fiesta Fender Stratocaster guitar for studio and concerts. Marvin subsequently gave the Black Fender Stratocaster to his son Ben Marvin who had it resprayed back to its original sunburst finish.
Stratocaster reproduction
In 2009, to mark the The Shadows 50th anniversary and "34346", the original Stratocaster is being reproduced in detail by Fender's Custom Shop in California. Built by Fender Master Luthier Greg Fessler, the run is limited to 50 pieces and has been produced within Fender's Dealer Select program. Commissioned by Oasis Musical Instruments (a UK guitar dealer run by "Shads" fan Howard Gillespie) The guitar is a faithful reproduction of the original, down to the mythical colour which Marvin called "Flamingo Pink". This colour is also referred to by Dire Straits Guitarist Mark Knopfler in Alan Yentob's BBC TV series. Fender has always denied the existence of that colour, and remained true to form by naming the colour of the reproduction "U K Custom Red". Exclusive to this guitar the colour is not available to order despite being given a colour code by the Custom Shop. Each one of the limited edition includes a certificate of authenticity from Fender, stating that the instrument is a reproduction of "The first Stratocaster to be imported into the UK" signed by the Master Builder, there is also a signed certificate of endorsement from Hank Marvin and Bruce Welch.Branding
In the early 1960s, Jennings named a range of guitar accessories after Marvin. The accessories included plectrumPlectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
, a guitar strap, and a Bigsby-styled tremolo
Tremolo
Tremolo, or tremolando, is a musical term that describes various trembling effects, falling roughly into two types. The first is a rapid reiteration...
unit. They used the Hank Marvin signature tremolo unit on several of their own Vox guitars. Marvin also worked with Jim Burns, head of the Burns London
Burns London
Burns London is a guitar-making company originally formed in 1960 as Ormston Burns Ltd. It was founded by James Ormston Burns , who has been described as the British Leo Fender...
guitar company, to develop his own signature model, known as the "Burns Marvin".
The "Marvin" appeared in 1964 and a 12-string version called the "Double Six" appeared a little earlier. In 1967, the Burns London company was taken over by the American piano-maker, Baldwin Piano Company
Baldwin Piano Company
The Baldwin Piano Company was the largest US-based manufacturer of keyboard instruments, most notably pianos. It remains a subsidiary of the Gibson Guitar Corporation, although it ceased domestic production of pianos in December 2008.-History:...
, and partly as a result of the takeover, the fewer-than-400 original Burns-made Marvins are now highly sought after. The revived Burns company made a limited reissue of 2004 signature Marvin guitars with a certificate of authenticity, signed by Marvin. Those instruments were promoted on the Shadows' 2004 Final Tour. Marvin's original Burns guitars had been stolen in 1972 and never appeared again.
Marvin influenced many guitarists, including Pete Townshend
Pete Townshend
Peter Dennis Blandford "Pete" Townshend is an English rock guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and author, known principally as the guitarist and songwriter for the rock group The Who, as well as for his own solo career...
, Mark Knopfler
Mark Knopfler
Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977...
and John Fogerty
John Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
. Although neither Marvin nor the Shadows were ever well known in the United States, despite several appearances on the Ed Sullivan Show, Marvin is listed by Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
as an influence on the first Mothers of Invention album. Afrikaa Bambaataa cited the group's first UK number one single "Apache" as a big influence, though it is likely that Bambaattaa was referring to the cover of "Apache" by The Incredible Bongo Band, which was popular among early hip hop DJs, due to the extended bongo break.
In Canada, Cliff Richard and the Shadows met with success, especially 1961-1965 when they enjoyed several top 10 hits. Canadian guitarists Randy Bachman
Randy Bachman
Randolph Charles "Randy" Bachman, OC, OM is a Canadian musician best known as lead guitarist, songwriter and a founding member for both the 1960s–70s rock band The Guess Who, and the 1970s rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive...
and Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
have credited Marvin's guitar work as influential. Carlos Santana
Carlos Santana
Carlos Augusto Alves Santana is a Mexican rock guitarist. Santana became famous in the late 1960s and early 1970s with his band, Santana, which pioneered rock, salsa and jazz fusion...
's nickname in his formative years was Apache because it was one of the earliest pieces he learned to play.
Solo career
As well as playing with The Shadows, Hank Marvin has had a successful solo career. He has been willing to experiment with styles and material, doing some purely instrumental albums, some with only vocals (e.g. "All Alone With Friends"), one with only acoustic guitars and one with a guitar orchestra ("The Hank Marvin Guitar Syndicate"). In 1970, Marvin and Welch formed Marvin, Welch & FarrarMarvin, Welch & Farrar
Marvin, Welch & Farrar were a 1970s British and Australian popular music group formed by two members of The Shadows as a change of direction manoeuvre by The Shadows during 1970-73 . The distinction was that while The Shadows were famous for their instrumental work, Marvin Welch & Farrar were a ...
, a vocal harmony trio which failed to appeal to many Shadows fans or to contemporary music fans. They reverted to being The Shadows in 1973, for the Rockin' with Curly Leads
Rockin' with Curly Leads
Rockin' with Curly Leads is the ninth rock album by British instrumental group The Shadows, released in 1973 through Columbia .-Track listing:-Personnel:*Electric & acoustic guitars - Hank Marvin, John Farrar & Bruce Welch...
album.
As a writer, Marvin was solely responsible for "Driftin'", "Geronimo", "Spider Juice" (his daughter's name for orange juice), "I want you to Want Me" for The Shadows, and "The Day I Met Marie". As co-writer with Bruce Welch, Brian Bennett, and John Rostill, he wrote other hits, mainly for Cliff Richard, including "I Could Easily Fall in Love with You" and "In the Country".
In 1988, Marvin collaborated with French keyboardist and composer Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel Jarre
Jean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
on the track "London Kid", which appeared on Jarre's "Revolutions" album and taking a guest role in the Frenchman's giant Destination Docklands
Destination Docklands
Destination Docklands was an event consisting of two concerts by musician Jean Michel Jarre on the Royal Victoria Docks, Docklands, London on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, 1988, to coincide with the release of Jarre's new album Revolutions...
concert at the Royal Victoria Dock
Royal Victoria Dock
The Royal Victoria Dock is the largest of three docks in the Royal Docks of east London, now part of the redeveloped Docklands.-History:...
. Jarre stated that the Shadows' success had a huge influence on him and his decision to devote the majority of his career to instrumental music.
In 1992, Duane Eddy guested on Marvin's album Into the Light on the track "Pipeline".
Marvin and the Shadows reformed for a 2004 Final Tour, which was so successful that a 2005 European tour was also organised.
Marvin dueted twice with French award-winning guitarist Jean-Pierre Danel
Jean-Pierre Danel
Jean-Pierre Danel is a French guitarist, record producer and composer.-Biography:Danel started his career as a professional guitarist in July 1982, at the age of 14....
, on his 2007 and 2010 albums. Marvin also participated to one of his dvds and wrote the foreword for Danel's book about the Fender Stratocaster
Fender Stratocaster
The Fender Stratocaster, often referred to as "Strat", is a model of electric guitar designed by Leo Fender, George Fullerton, and Freddie Tavares in 1954, and manufactured continuously by the Fender Musical Instruments Corporation to the present. It is a double-cutaway guitar, with an extended top...
.
While his Shadows colleagues Bruce Welch and Brian Bennett accepted the honour of an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
) in the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours
British honours system
The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals' personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom and the British Overseas Territories...
List for services to music, Marvin declined, citing "personal reasons".
Early career groups (pre-Shadows/Drifters)
1956 – Riverside Skiffle group → Crescent City Skiffle Group- Marvin (banjo), John Tate (guitar), Derek Johnson (guitar), Joe Rankin (bass), Mal Malarky (mandolin), and Howard Muir (wb)
1956–1957 – The Railroaders (#1)
- Marvin (guitar), Welch (guitar), George Williams (guitar), Jim ? (drums)
1956–1957 – The Railroaders (#2)
- Marvin (guitar), Welch (guitar), Eddie Silver (guitar), George Williams (bass), and Jim ? (drums)
1958 – The Vipers (aka The Vipers Skiffle group)
- live concert
- Wally WhytonWally WhytonWallace Victor "Wally" Whyton was a British musician, songwriter and radio and TV personality.Born in London, England, Whyton grew up listening to jazz, blues and folk music, and learned to play first the piano, then trombone, and finally guitar...
(vocals), Johnny Booker (guitar), Hank Marvin (guitar), J. Harris (bass), and Johnny Pilgrim (wb)
1958 – The Five Chesternuts
- 7" single – ("Jean Dorothy" on Columbia)
- Gerry Hurst (vocals), Marvin (guitar), Welch (guitar), Neil Johnson (bass), and Pete Chester (drums)
UK solo tours
- 1994 – w/Brian Bennett (drums), Ben Marvin (guitar), Warren Bennett (guitar/keyboards), Mark Griffiths (bass)
- 1995 – w/Ben Marvin (guitar), Warren Bennett (guitar/keyboards), Mark Griffiths (bass)
- 1997 – w/Ben Marvin (guitar), Warren Bennett (guitar/keyboards), Mark Griffiths (bass)
- 1998 – w/Ben Marvin (guitar), Warren Bennett (guitar/keyboards), Mark Griffiths (bass)
- 2002 – w/Ben Marvin (guitar), Warren Bennett (guitar/keyboards), Mark Griffiths (bass)
Production credits
- Spaghetti Junction Work's Nice – If you can get it/Step right Up Columbia DB 8935
- Des O'Connor – Another Side Des O'Connor – LP – NSPL 18559.
- Flair – Stop look & listen – LP – MLP 15611.
- Flair – Fair – LP – CC 227324
- Flair – Fair play – LP – CC 327224
Guest appearances
- 1972: Spaghetti Junction Work's Nice – If you can get it/Step right Up Columbia DB 8935
- 1976: EvitaEvita (1976 album)Evita is a concept album released in 1976 and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.Having successfully launched their previous show, Jesus Christ Superstar, on record in 1970, Lloyd Webber and Rice returned to the format for Evita...
: guitar on "Buenos Aires" - 1977: Dennis WatermanDennis WatermanDennis Waterman is a British actor and singer, best known for his tough-guy roles in television series including The Sweeney, Minder and New Tricks.-Early life:...
Waterman album (also features Brian Bennett) - 1977: Roger DaltreyRoger DaltreyRoger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
One of The Boys album – guitar on "Parade" and "Leon" - 1978: Des O'ConnorDes O'ConnorDes O'Connor, CBE is an English comedian and singer. A former talkshow host, he was the presenter of the long-running Channel 4 gameshow Countdown for two years...
Another Side of Des O'Connor album - 1979: WingsWings (band)Wings were a British-American rock group formed in 1971 by Paul McCartney, Denny Laine and Linda McCartney that remained active until 1981....
Back to the EggBack to the EggBack to the Egg is the seventh and final studio album by Wings, released in 1979. It is also Wings' first album for Columbia Records after leaving long-time United States distributor Capitol Records in 1978...
album – "Rockestra ThemeRockestra Theme"Rockestra Theme", one of Paul McCartney's harder-rocking songs, was recorded on October 3, 1978, at Abbey Road Studios by an all-star collection of musicians dubbed "Rockestra", although the song is technically credited to Wings...
" and "So Glad To See You Here" - 1982: British Electric Foundation Music of Quality and Distinction volume 1
guitar on "Anyone Who Had A Heart" with Sandie ShawSandie ShawSandie Shaw is an English pop singer, who was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. In 1967 she was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest...
and "It's Over" with Billy MacKenzieBilly MackenzieWilliam MacArthur "Billy" Mackenzie was a Scottish singer, with a distinctive falsetto voice best known as a member of The Associates.- Biography :... - 1983: Tracy Ullman You Broke My Heart In 17 PlacesYou Broke My Heart In 17 PlacesYou Broke My Heart In 17 Places, is a studio album by singer-actress-comedienne, Tracey Ullman. It peaked at number 14 on the UK album chart and number 34 on the Billboard 200 in the U.S., in the Spring of 1984....
album: guitar on "Move Over Darling" and "You Broke My Heart in 17 Places" - 1983: Leo SayerLeo SayerLeo Sayer is a British singer-songwriter, musician, and entertainer whose singing career has spanned four decades. Sayer became a naturalised Australian citizen in 2009. Sayer was a top singles and album act on both sides of the Atlantic in the 1970s...
Have You Ever Been in Love album: guitar on "Don't Wait Until Tomorrow" - 1984: Shakin' StevensShakin' StevensShakin' Stevens, also known as "Shaky" is a platinum selling Welsh rock and roll singer and songwriter who holds the distinction of being the UK's biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s . His recording and performing career began in the late 1960s, although it was not until 1980 that he saw...
"Teardrops" single - 1985: Dire StraitsDire StraitsDire Straits were a British rock band active from 1977 to 1995, composed of Mark Knopfler , his younger brother David Knopfler , John Illsley , and Pick Withers .Dire Straits' sound drew from a variety of musical influences, including jazz, folk, blues, and came closest...
plays "Going Home" ("Local HeroLocal HeroLocal Hero is a 1983 Scottish comedy-drama film starring Peter Riegert and Burt Lancaster. It was directed by Bill Forsyth and produced by David Puttnam....
's Theme"), with the band, as a special guest at Live at Wembley - 1986: Cliff RichardCliff RichardSir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide....
and The Young OnesThe Young Ones (TV series)The Young Ones is a British sitcom, first broadcast in 1982, which ran for two series on BBC2. Its anarchic, offbeat humour helped bring alternative comedy to television in the 1980s and made household names of its writers and performers...
"Living DollLiving Doll (song)"Living Doll" is a song written by Lionel Bart made popular by Cliff Richard and the Shadows in 1959. It has topped the UK charts twice; in its original version and a new version recorded in 1986 in aid of Comic Relief....
" - 1988: Jean Michel JarreJean Michel JarreJean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
Revolutions guitar on "London Kid" - 1989: Jean Michel JarreJean Michel JarreJean Michel André Jarre is a French composer, performer and music producer. He is a pioneer in the electronic, ambient and New Age genres, and known as an organiser of outdoor spectacles of his music featuring lights, laser displays, and fireworks.Jarre was raised in Lyon by his mother and...
Destination DocklandsDestination DocklandsDestination Docklands was an event consisting of two concerts by musician Jean Michel Jarre on the Royal Victoria Docks, Docklands, London on Saturday, October 8 and Sunday, October 9, 1988, to coincide with the release of Jarre's new album Revolutions...
: guitar on "London Kid" and "Rendez-Vous IV" - 1995: Alan Jones A Shadow In Time album: guest on title track "A Shadow In Time"
- 1998: Jane McDonaldJane McDonaldJane McDonald is a British singer, actress and media personality and broadcaster, who first became famous following her appearance on the BBC docusoap The Cruise...
"You're My World" single - 2005: Richard HawleyRichard HawleyRichard Hawley is a guitarist, singer-songwriter and producer. After his first band Treebound Story broke up, Hawley found success as a member of Britpop band Longpigs in the 1990s. He later joined the band Pulp, led by his friend Jarvis Cocker...
"I'm Absolutely Hank Marvin", b-side of "Coles Corner" single - 2007: Peter FramptonPeter FramptonPeter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
Fingerprints album: guitar on My Cup of Tea (also features Brian Bennett) - 2007 Jean-Pierre DanelJean-Pierre DanelJean-Pierre Danel is a French guitarist, record producer and composer.-Biography:Danel started his career as a professional guitarist in July 1982, at the age of 14....
Nivram (French Chart #15) + Blues jam session on DVD - 2008 Jason DonovanJason DonovanJason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
Let It Be Me on Dreamboats and Petticoats album - 2008 Le QuecumBar Patrons Stars of Gypsy Swing ("Coquette", "Noto Swing")
- 2010 Jean-Pierre DanelJean-Pierre DanelJean-Pierre Danel is a French guitarist, record producer and composer.-Biography:Danel started his career as a professional guitarist in July 1982, at the age of 14....
M Appeal
In addition to the above, Marvin also plays guitar on the following tracks of library music recorded for Bruton Music:
- "Fighter Plane" (with Alan HawkshawAlan HawkshawAlan Hawkshaw is a British composer and performer, particularly of themes for movies and television programmes...
) on Top Of The Range - "Conquest of Space" (with Alan HawkshawAlan HawkshawAlan Hawkshaw is a British composer and performer, particularly of themes for movies and television programmes...
) on Grandiose Impressive Panoramic - "Human Desert" (with Alan HawkshawAlan HawkshawAlan Hawkshaw is a British composer and performer, particularly of themes for movies and television programmes...
) on Human Desert
Singles
(V) – Vocal| Year | A-side A-side and B-side A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or... |
B-side A-side and B-side A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or... |
UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | London's Not Too Far (V) | Running Out Of World (V) (The Shadows The Shadows The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'... ) |
|
Columbia Columbia Graphophone Company The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Under EMI, as Columbia Records, it became a very successful label in the 1950s and 1960s... DB 8326 |
| 1969 | Goodnight Dick | Wahine | |
Columbia DB 8552 |
| 1969 | Sunday For Seven Days | Sacha | |
Columbia DB 8601 |
| 1969 | Throw Down A Line (V) | Reflections | |
Columbia DB 8615 (Cliff Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... and Hank) |
| 1969 | Slaughter on 10th Avenue (The Shadows The Shadows The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'... ) |
Midnight Cowboy | |
Columbia DB 8628 |
| 1970 | The Joy Of Living (V) | Leave My Woman Alone (V) Boogatoo | |
Columbia DB 8657 (Cliff Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... and Hank) |
| 1970 | Break Another Dawn | Would You Believe It (V) | |
(Unreleased, promo only) |
| 1970 | Break Another Dawn | Morning Star | |
Columbia DB 8693 |
| 1970 | Morning Star | Evening Comes | |
(Australia and New Zealand only) |
| 1977 | Flamingo | Syndicated | |
EMI EMI The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major... 2744 (Hank Marvin Guitar Syndicate) |
| 1981 | Sacha / Sunday For Seven Days | Morning Star / Evening Comes | |
(New Zealand only) Hank Marvin EP |
| 1982 | Don't Talk (V) | Life Line (V) | |
Polydor POSP420 |
| 1982 | The Trouble With Me Is You (remix) (V) | Captain Zlogg | |
Polydor POSP479 |
| 1983 | The Hawk and the Dove (V) | Janine | |
Polydor POSP581 |
| 1983 | Invisible Man (V) | All Alone With Friends | |
Polydor POSP618 |
| 1986 | Living Doll | |
(Cliff Richard Cliff Richard Sir Cliff Richard, OBE is a British pop singer, musician, performer, actor, and philanthropist who has sold over an estimated 250 million records worldwide.... and The Young Ones featuring Hank B. Marvin) |
|
| 1989 | London Kid | |
(Jean-Michel Jarre featuring Hank Marvin) | |
| 1992 | We Are The Champions We Are the Champions "We Are the Champions" is a power ballad written by Freddie Mercury, recorded and performed by British rock band Queen for their 1977 album News of the World. One of their most famous and popular songs, it remains among rock's most recognisable anthems... (with Brian May Brian May Brian Harold May, CBE is an English musician and astrophysicist most widely known as the guitarist and a songwriter of the rock band Queen... ) |
Moontalk / Into The Light (CD) | |
Polydor PO 229 |
| 1993 | Wonderful Land (with Mark Knopfler Mark Knopfler Mark Freuder Knopfler, OBE is a Scottish-born British guitarist, singer, songwriter, record producer and film score composer. He is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the British rock band Dire Straits, which he co-founded in 1977... ) |
Hot Rox (CD) / Nivram | |
Polydor PO297 |
Studio / Live Albums
- 1969 Hank Marvin #14
- 1977 Hank Marvin Guitar Syndicate (no chart position)
- 1982 Words and Music #66
- 1983 All alone with friends (no chart position)
- 1992 Into the light #18
- 1993 Heartbeat #17
- 1995 Hank plays Cliff #33
- 1996 Hank plays Holly #34
- 1997 Hank plays Live #71
- 1997 Plays the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber #41
- 2000 Marvin at the Movies #17
- 2002 Guitar Player #10
- 2007 Guitar ManGuitar Man (Hank Marvin album)Guitar Man is an album by guitarist Hank Marvin, released in 2007.- Track listing :- Personnel :* Lead guitar, Arranger, Producer - Hank B...
#6
Compilation Albums
- 1987 Would You Believe It...Plus (reissue of 1969 LP with bonus tracks)
- 1994 The Best of Hank Marvin & The Shadows #19
- 1995 Handpicked (no chart position)
- 1997 The Very Best of Hank Marvin & The Shadows The First 40 Years #56
- 1998 Another Side Of Hank Marvin (no chart position)
- 2001 The Singles Collection 'The 80's & 90's' Hank Marvin & The Shadows (no chart position)
- 2004 Shadowing The Hits (no chart position)
- 2004 Guitar Ballads (no chart position)
- 2007 Hank Marvin & The Shadows Play The 60's (no chart position)
- 2008 The Solid Gold Collection (no chart position)