Margie Evans

Margie Evans
Birth name Marjorie Ann Johnson[1]
Born (1940-07-17) July 17, 1940
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Genres Blues[2]
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter
Instruments Vocals
Years active 1960s-1990s
Labels Various including United Artists, ICA and L & R Records
Associated acts Billy Ward, Ron Marshall, Johnny Otis, Bobby Bland

Margie Evans (born July 17, 1940) is an American blues singer and songwriter.[2] She recorded mainly in the 1970s and 1980s, and secured two hit singles on the US Billboard R&B chart. She has variously worked with Johnny Otis and Bobby Bland.

Her main influences were Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thornton.[3]

In addition to her musicianship, Evans is noted as a motivational speaker and rights activist, as well as a promoter of the legacy of blues music.[4]

Life and career

Marjorie Ann Johnson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States.[1] Raised as a devout church goer, Evans early exposure to music was via gospel.[5] In 1958, she moved to Los Angeles. She initially sang as a backing vocalist with Billy Ward between 1958 and 1964, before joining the Ron Marshall Orchestra between 1964 and 1969. She then successfully auditioned to join Johnny Otis Band.[1] During her four year stay there, she performed on The Johnny Otis Show Live at Monterey and Cuttin' Up albums. In addition to her recording and performing duties, Evans used her influence to help set up the Southern California Blues Society to help promote the art form through education and sponsorship.[5]

Evans commenced her solo career in 1973, and found almost immediate chart success. Her track "Good Feeling" (United Artists 246) entered the R&B chart on June 30, 1973 for four weeks, reaching number 55. However, it was another four years before "Good Thing Queen - Part 1" (ICA 002) entered the same chart listing on July 9, 1977 for eight weeks, peaking at number 47.[1] In 1975 she supplied backing vocals on Donald Byrd's album, Stepping into Tomorrow.[6]

Also sandwiched between these hits, in November 1975, Evans appeared on German television filmed at the Berlin based Jazz Tage concert with Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Bo Diddley and James Booker.[7] Using Bobby Bland as her record producer and part-time song writing partner, Evans co-wrote the song "Soon As the Weather Breaks", which reached number 76 (R&B) for Bland in 1980.[1][8]

In 1980, Evans performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival and Long Beach Blues Festival, repeating the feat at the latter a year later. Her touring saw Evans take part in the American Folk Blues Festivals in 1981, 1982 and 1985.[9] In 1983, Evans was granted the Keepin' the Blues Alive Award by the Blues Foundation.[3]

Still performing into the early 1990s, Evans toured the States, Canada and Europe as well as appearing with Jay McShann at the Toronto Jazz Festival.[3] In the same decade, Evans continued her welfare work, by helping to organise the 5-4 Optimist Club for children from the South Central Los Angeles district.[5] Her 1996 album, Drowning in the Sea of Love is her most recent recorded output.[2]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Record label
1982 Margie Evans L & R Records
1983 Another Blues Day L & R Records
1996 Blues Classics L & R Records
1996 Drowning in the Sea of Love Terra Nova Records

[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 297.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Margie Evans". Allmusic. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 "Margie Evans' Wild, Wild World : Concert: The singer, who says that 'blues is so much fun for me,' travels to Europe and to Canada for the opportunity to perform". Latimes.com. December 4, 1992. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  4. ↑ Dunbar, Julie C. (2011). Women, Music, Culture: An Introduction (1st ed.). New York, United States: Routledge. p. 172. ISBN 0-203-83477-1.
  5. 1 2 3 Lipsitz, George (2010). Midnight at the Barrelhouse: The Johnny Otis Story (1st ed.). Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States: University of Minnesota Press. pp. 142/4. ISBN 978-0-8166-6678-2.
  6. ↑ "Stepping into Tomorrow > Credits". Allmusic. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  7. ↑ Bakker, Vincent (2009). The Gangster of Love: Johnny "Guitar" Watson: Performer, Preacher, Pimp (1st ed.). CreateSpace. p. 298. ISBN 1442141476.
  8. ↑ Farley, Charles (2011). Soul of the Man: Bobby "Blue" Bland (1st ed.). Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States: University Press of Mississippi. p. 188. ISBN 978-1-60473-919-0.
  9. ↑ "American Folk Blues Festival Discography". Wirz.de. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
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