Marvin Sease

Marvin Monnie Sease (February 16, 1946 – February 8, 2011)[1][2] was an American blues and soul singer-songwriter known for his gospel-infused vocal style and erotic lyrics.

Marvin Sease
Birth nameMarvin Monnie Sease
Born(1946-02-16)February 16, 1946
Blackville, South Carolina, US
DiedFebruary 8, 2011(2011-02-08) (aged 64)
Vicksburg, Mississippi, United States
GenresGospel, blues, soul
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1966–2011
LabelsPolygram Records
Mercury Records
Jive Records
Malaco Records

Biography

Born in Blackville, South Carolina,[2] Sease started as a gospel artist, joining a gospel group called the Five Gospel Crowns,[2] located in Charleston, South Carolina. After singing with them, Sease then left at age 20 for New York City. At this young age settling into New York, he then joined another gospel group called the Gospel Crowns. Having a preference for the musical style of R&B, Sease left the gospel circuit to form his own R&B group. In this group Sease was accompanied by his own three brothers, and named the backing band Naglfar.[2] This band did not find popularity and eventually broke up. He did not quit performing musically, but began to cover songs that started a career with a recurring gig at the Brooklyn club, Casablanca.

In 1986, he recorded a self-titled album, featuring one of his more popular songs, "Ghetto Man". This started his professional career with his fans in the South's circuit of bars, blues festivals, and juke joints. While promoting his self produced and publicized debut album, he entered a recording contract with Polygram. With this contract, he was able to launch his music nationally with the re-release of his self-titled LP on Mercury Records in 1987. This updated release of his previous material also included the new ten-minute track "Candy Licker", which became an instant success for Sease through the South.[3] Success had finally come to Sease without the help of airplay, which deemed his sound too explicit for the audience.[4] Sease's success with "Candy Licker" ensured a strong female-based following. He was said to have a comparable sound to Johnnie Taylor and Tyrone Davis, but without the commercial success.

Over the next decade Sease released several more records for Mercury and Jive Records. His only nationally charting hit, "Tonight", reached # 86 on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1991.[5]

Sease died of complications from pneumonia in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on February 8, 2011, eight days before his 65th birthday.[6][7]

There was a poster depicting Sease in the film, Pretty in Pink.

References
  1. Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 129. ISBN 978-0313344237.
  2. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed February 2011
  3. Chitlin' Circuit Archived 2011-02-13 at the Wayback Machine, Memphis Magazine (July 1, 2006)
  4. Blues: Good for the soul, The Dallas Morning News (February 7, 2007) ("Marvin Sease's raunchy yet soulful lyrics made him popular on Southern soul circuits")
  5. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 392.
  6. Blues singer Marvin Sease dies at 64 (February 8, 2011). Archived February 11, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. Variety.com - retrieved February 9, 2011
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