Marva Josie

Marva Josie (also known as Marva Josie Spurling) is an American jazz singer who was a longtime vocalist for Earl Hines.^[1][2][3]

Biography

Josie was born on December 9, 1939, in Clairton, Pennsylvania^[4] (a suburb of Pittsburgh^[5]).

Josie first met Hines in 1968. She toured for 16 years with his quartet,^[6] and they recorded several albums together.^[7][8] In 1976 they played at the White House for President Gerald Ford^[9] and later for President Jimmy Carter.^[10] She was the last vocalist to tour with Hines.^[11]

Before joining Hines' group, Josie made a reputation as an R&B singer^[12] based in Detroit.^[13][14] She was originally trained in classical music and opera,^[15] and was known for her extraordinary (5+1⁄2-octave) range.^[16]

Discography[17]

• 1973: Marva Josie With Earl Hines And His Orchestra - This Is Marva Josie
• 1977: An Evening With Earl Hines: 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^[18]
• 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^[17][19]

References

1. Stanley Dance, Earl Hines. The World of Earl Hines. 1983
2. Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, Volume 3. Page 1281
3. Wilson, John S. (1981-08-27). "JAZZ: EARL HINES, HIS QUARTET". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
4. "Marva Josie from Ward 2 Clairton in 1940 Census District 2-89". www.archives.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
5. "History of Pittsburgh jazz explored". heraldstaronline.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
6. Varine, Patrick (2021-04-24). "Pittsburgh jazz legend Earl 'Fatha' Hines to receive historical marker in Duquesne". TribLIVE.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
7. "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". Trapeze Music & Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
8. "Earl Hines: Most influential Jazz Pianist - Mosaic Records". Mosaic Records - Home for Jazz fans!. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
9. Ian Carr, Digby Fairweather, Brian Priestley. Jazz: the essential companion. Prentice Hall Press, 1988. Page 231
10. "New Music Styles at the White House". WHHA (en-US). Retrieved 2023-03-29.
11. "Earl Hines, Lois Deppe, Marva Josie, Mary Lou and Madam C. J. Walker". WZUM Jazz Pittsburgh. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
12. "Indianapolis Recorder 6 August 1966 — Hoosier State Chronicles: Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program". newspapers.library.in.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
13. "CORREC-TONE Records - Soulful Detroit". soulfuldetroit.com. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
14. Various - Birth Of Soul (Special Detroit Edition 1961-64), 31 March 2017, retrieved 2023-03-29
15. Frazier, Carol Waterloo (2 March 2015). "McKeesport event recognizes famous Black Mon Valley musicians". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
16. Stokes, W. Royal (1979-11-14). "Earl Hines Quartet". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
17. "Marva Josie". Discogs. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
18. "Jazzman Records". www.jazzmanrecords.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
19. Discography