Marva Josie
{{short description|American jazz musician}}
Marva Josie (also known as Marva Josie Spurling) is an American jazz singer who was a longtime vocalist for Earl Hines.[https://books.google.com/books?id=cOtXAAAAYAAJ&q=%22marva+josie%22 Stanley Dance, Earl Hines. The World of Earl Hines. 1983][https://books.google.com/books?id=8112AAAAMAAJ&q=%22marva+josie%22 Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, Volume 3. Page 1281]{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=John S. |date=1981-08-27 |title=JAZZ: EARL HINES, HIS QUARTET |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/08/27/arts/jazz-earl-hines-his-quartet.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |issn=0362-4331}}
Biography
Josie was born on December 9, 1939, in Clairton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh.{{Cite web |title=Marva Josie from Ward 2 Clairton in 1940 Census District 2-89 |url=https://www.archives.com/1940-census/marva-josie-pa-74227180 |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.archives.com}}{{Cite web |title=History of Pittsburgh jazz explored |url=https://www.heraldstaronline.com/news/local-news/2020/03/history-of-pittsburgh-jazz-explored/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=heraldstaronline.com |language=en-US}}
Josie first met Hines in 1968. She toured for 16 years with his quartet,{{Cite web |last=Varine |first=Patrick |date=2021-04-24 |title=Pittsburgh jazz legend Earl 'Fatha' Hines to receive historical marker in Duquesne |url=https://triblive.com/aande/music/pittsburgh-jazz-legend-earl-fatha-hines-to-receive-historical-marker-in-duquesne/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=TribLIVE.com |language=en-US}} and they recorded several albums together.{{Cite web |title=The great Earl Hines first met Marva Josie in 1968, impressed by her range, style and appearance she became the latest in a long line of important vocalists who had worked with the master pianist. Following in the footsteps of Herb Jeffries, Billy Eckstine, Sarah Vaughan, Johnny Hartman and Etta Jones. All of whom owed some part of their career to Hines. On this album recorded for Catalyst in 1977 her versatility is well in evidence as she sings a variety of numbers ranging wildly in tempo, age and mood. Underneath it all is Earl Hines lifting the ensemble and soloists to new heights. |url=https://www.trapezemusic.com/earl-fatha-hines--marva-josie-jazz-is-his-old-lady--my-old-man-300-p.asp |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Trapeze Music & Entertainment |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Earl Hines: Most influential Jazz Pianist - Mosaic Records |url=https://www.mosaicrecords.com/the-great-jazz-artists/earl-hines/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=Mosaic Records - Home for Jazz fans! |language=en-US}} In 1976 they played at the White House for President Gerald Ford[https://books.google.com/books?id=M9M3AAAAMAAJ&q=%22marva+josie%22 Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestley. Jazz: the essential companion. Prentice Hall Press, 1988. Page 231] and later for President Jimmy Carter.{{Cite web |title=New Music Styles at the White House |url=https://www.whitehousehistory.org/new-music-styles-at-the-white-house |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=WHHA (en-US) |language=en}} She was the last vocalist to tour with Hines.{{Cite web |title=Earl Hines, Lois Deppe, Marva Josie, Mary Lou and Madam C. J. Walker |url=https://www.wzum.org/jazz-blog/2023/2/23/thescene-4pg-4 |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=WZUM Jazz Pittsburgh |date=23 February 2023 |language=en-US}}
Before joining Hines' group, Josie made a reputation as an R&B singer{{Cite web |title=Indianapolis Recorder 6 August 1966 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program |url=https://newspapers.library.in.gov/cgi-bin/indiana?a=d&d=INR19660806-01.1.10&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=newspapers.library.in.gov}} based in Detroit.{{Cite web |title=CORREC-TONE Records - Soulful Detroit |url=https://soulfuldetroit.com/web16-correctone/03/03-Parizian.htm |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=soulfuldetroit.com}}{{Citation |title=Various - Birth Of Soul (Special Detroit Edition 1961-64) |date=31 March 2017 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/10089928-Various-Birth-Of-Soul-Special-Detroit-Edition-1961-64 |access-date=2023-03-29 |language=en}} She was originally trained in classical music and opera,{{Cite web |last=Frazier |first=Carol Waterloo |title=McKeesport event recognizes famous Black Mon Valley musicians |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/mckeesport-event-recognizes-famous-black-mon-valley-musicians/article_3e49d13f-8806-58a7-a9f2-8871b81aa301.html |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |date=2 March 2015 |language=en}} and was known for her extraordinary ({{frac|5|1|2}}-octave) range.{{Cite news |last=Stokes |first=W. Royal |date=1979-11-14 |title=Earl Hines Quartet |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1979/11/14/earl-hines-quartet/c296d3c8-f6ea-43f0-a55a-5a30faea997f/ |access-date=2023-03-29 |issn=0190-8286}}
Discography
- 1973: Marva Josie with Earl Hines and his Orchestra - This Is Marva Josie
- 1977: An Evening with Earl Hines ("Live at Dinklers Motor Inn"): with Tiny Grimes, Hank Young, Bert Dahlander and Marva Josie: Disques Vogue VDJ-534
- 1977: Earl "Fatha" Hines and Marva Josie – Jazz is His Old Lady... and My Old Man
- 1982: Earl Hines with Marva Josie and the 150 Band - Fatha's Birthday
- 1984: Forever Love
- First Church of Deliverance Choir featuring Earl "Fatha" Hines, Marva Josie - Songs Of Deliverance, Volume IV
=Singles & EPs=
- 1962: You Lied
- 1963: I Don't Care
- 1965: I Love New York / "Don't"
- 1965: Birthday Fella / Did You Ever Love Someone
- 1966: Crazy Stocking's
- 1969: I'm Satisfied - Love's Burning Fire
- 1971: Marva Josie, Earl "Fatha" Hines Quartet - He Does It Better/Scarborough Fair{{Cite web |title=Jazzman Records |url=https://www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk/marva-josie-he-does-it-better |access-date=2023-03-29 |website=www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk}}
- 1973: Marva Josie, Earl Hines And His Orchestra - Social Security/Can She
- 1977: Earl "Fatha" Hines* With Marva Josie - Jazz His Old Lady And My Old Man
- 1986: Love You Don't Know Me / Lollipop[http://www.soulfulkindamusic.net/mjosie.htm Discography]
References
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Category:American women jazz singers
Category:American jazz singers
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