Margie Evans

Margie Evans (born July 17, 1940) is an American blues and gospel singer and songwriter.[2] She started recording in the late 1960s and is still recording today. She secured two hit singles on the US Billboard R&B chart. She has variously worked with Johnny Otis, Bobby Bland, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson, Joe Liggins, Lloyd Glenn, Willie Dixon, Al Bell, and Monk Higgins.

Margie Evans
Birth nameMarjorie Ann Johnson[1]
Born (1940-07-17) July 17, 1940
Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
GenresBlues[2]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1960s–present
LabelsVarious including United Artists, ICA and L & R Records
Associated actsBilly Ward, Ron Marshall, Johnny Otis, Bobby Bland
WebsiteOfficial website

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]

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 solo-output.[2] She recorded three albums with the Swiss blues singer Philipp Fankhauser in 1989, 1994 and 2016 respectively. In 2015 and 2016, Evans returned to the stage, guesting with Fankhauser in front of sold out venues throughout Switzerland.

Discography

Albums

YearTitleRecord labelProducer
1982Mistreated WomanL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann and Margie Evans
1983Another Blues DayL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann
1990Too Late Rising SunMarvic Music Co.François Love and Margie Evans
1996Blues ClassicsL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann
1996Drowning in the Sea of LoveTerra Nova RecordsRobert Susz

[2]

Singles

YearTitleRecord labelProducer
1973"Twenty Nine Ways"Yambo RecordsWillie Dixon
1973"When I Make Love"Yambo RecordsWillie Dixon
1973"Good Feeling"United ArtistsMonk Higgins
1977"Good Thing Queen Part I"ICA Recording GroupMonk Higgins
1979"You Are To Me"ICA Recording GroupMonk Higgins and Al Bell

Collaborations and compilation albums

YearTitleArtistRecord labelProducerVocals on
1969Cuttin' UpJohnny Otis ShowEpicJohnny OtisThree tracks
1970Live At Monterey!Johnny Otis ShowEpicJohnny OtisOne track
1981American Folk Blues FestivalVarious ArtistsL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann and Fritz RauFour tracks
1982American Folk Blues FestivalVarious ArtistsL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann and Fritz RauThree tracks
1982American Folk Blues FestivalVarious ArtistsAmiga RecordsHorst Lippmann and Fritz RauOne track
1985American Folk Blues FestivalVarious ArtistsL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann and Fritz RauOne track
1985We Shall Walk Through The Valley In PeaceRickey Grundy & Williams FamilyL & R RecordsHorst Lippmann and Margie EvansEight tracks
1989Blues For The LadyPhilipp FankhauserFunk House Blues Prod.Philipp FankhauserFour tracks
1994Thun - San FranciscoPhilipp FankhauserFunk House Blues Prod.Philipp Fankhauser and H. RaymondazThree tracks
2016Unplugged - Live at Mühle HunzikenPhilipp FankhauserFunk House Blues Prod.Marco JencarelliNine tracks

Music catalogue / compositions

TitleBMI Work #ComposerPublisher
"Another Margie's Boogie"# 47034Margie Evans
"Blue Blue Blues"# 127657Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"Chilly Waters"# 207852Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"Come To Me"# 232686Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"Don't Throw No Stones At Me"# 329426Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"European Holiday"# 385217Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"Giving Up The Street For Love"# 477042Margie Evans, Robert Calvin Bland
"God The First Good Thing Man"# 485627Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland, Frank LucasAlvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc.
"Going Away Blues"# 487607Margie Evans, David Clark
"Good Thing Queen"# 485627Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland, Frank LucasAlvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc..
"Hurry Sundown"# 599375Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"I Got The Restless Blues"# 625566Margie Evans
"I'll Be There"# 636988Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"I'm On My Way"# 663001Margie Evans, Virginia P. Bland, Isbell AlvertisAlvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc..
"I've Been Buked"# 681815Margie Evans
"ICA Special"# 699154Margie Evans, Virginia P. BlandAlvert Music, Bridgeport Music Inc..
"It Ain't Nothing But Common Sense"# 734905Margie Evans
"It's A Shame"# 734905Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"Let The Telephone Ring"# 861502Margie Evans, Cash McCall
"Loser"# 908825Margie Evans, Cash McCall

All information from the database of BMI.com

See also

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-1995. Record Research. p. 297.
  2. "Margie Evans". AllMusic. Retrieved October 17, 2012.
  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. 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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