Rex Garvin
Encyclopedia
Rex Garvin is an American
former R&B 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
.
and lived in the Bronx. 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 neighbour Zelma "Zell" Sanders, The Hearts' first record, "Lonely Nights", was issued on the Baton label in early 1955 and reached # 8 on the Billboard
R&B chart. Garvin 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". 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 # 3 R&B in 1957) was written by Garvin, who also sang harmony vocals on the song and was credited as bandleader. The song was covered
in 1963 by Bobby Vinton
, whose version reached # 21 on the Hot 100.
Garvin's own recording career started in 1957, with "My Darling Dear". In 1959, his vocal duet with Marie Knight
as Marie and Rex on "I Can't Sit Down" reached # 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
. 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), "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). Several of these recordings have been anthologised in recent years, particularly on Northern Soul
compilations. "Sock It To 'Em J.B." had a double meaning, being a tribute to James Bond
performed in the style of James Brown
; it was issued as a single in the UK as well as the US, and was later covered
by British band The Specials on their album More Specials
in 1980. 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. Their last record release was "Strange Happenings" on the Chieftain label in 1971.
Garvin was later reported to be living in Atlanta, Georgia
. In 1990, "Emulsified" was covered by Yo La Tengo
on their album Fakebook
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
former R&B 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
The Specials
The Specials are an English 2 Tone ska revival band formed in 1977 in Coventry, England. Their music combines a "danceable ska and rocksteady beat with punk's energy and attitude", and had a "more focused and informed political and social stance" than other ska groups...
.
Life and career
He was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and lived in the Bronx. 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 neighbour Zelma "Zell" Sanders, The Hearts' first record, "Lonely Nights", was issued on the Baton label in early 1955 and reached # 8 on the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
R&B chart. Garvin 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". Members of The Hearts later performed as The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts were a Bronx, New York girl group who became one-hit wonders with "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1963.-Beginnings:...
. At the same time, Garvin became Sanders' main assistant at J & S Records
J & S Records
J & S Records was a New York record label started in 1956 and continued through to the 1960s. The owner was Zelma “Zell” Sanders , one of the few woman label owners in the record business....
, 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 # 3 R&B in 1957) was written by Garvin, who also sang harmony vocals on the song and was credited as bandleader. The song was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
in 1963 by Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton is an American pop music singer of Polish origin. In pop music circles, he became known as "The Polish Prince".-Early life:...
, whose version reached # 21 on the Hot 100.
Garvin's own recording career started in 1957, with "My Darling Dear". In 1959, his vocal duet with Marie Knight
Marie Knight
Marie Knight was an American gospel and R&B singer.-Life and career:She was born Marie Roach in Sanford, Florida but grew up in Newark, New Jersey. Her father was a construction worker and the family were members of the Church of God in Christ. She first toured as a singer in 1939 with Frances...
as Marie and Rex on "I Can't Sit Down" reached # 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
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
; the single was reissued two years later by Okeh
Okeh Records
Okeh Records began as an independent record label based in the United States of America in 1918. From 1926 on, it was a subsidiary of Columbia Records.-History:...
. 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), "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). Several of these recordings have been anthologised in recent years, particularly on Northern Soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
compilations. "Sock It To 'Em J.B." had a double meaning, being a tribute to James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
performed in the style of James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
; it was issued as a single in the UK as well as the US, and was later covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by British band The Specials on their album More Specials
More Specials
More Specials is an October 1980 album from the ska band The Specials. The album was the band's second, after their self-titled debut, and expanded the group's 2 tone sound to include lounge music and other influences. It includes collaborations with The Go-Go's, Rhoda Dakar from The...
in 1980. 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. Their last record release was "Strange Happenings" on the Chieftain label in 1971.
Garvin was later reported to be living in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. In 1990, "Emulsified" was covered by Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
on their album Fakebook
Fakebook (album)
Fakebook is the fourth official, full-length album released, in 1990, by alternative rock band Yo La Tengo. Comprising eleven cover songs as well as five originals, this album is regarded as a departure from their previous albums due to it containing mostly folk songs...
.