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One of the first notable rhythm & blues duos, Marvin & Johnny weren't so much a permanent act as Marvin Phillips (b. Oct. 23, 1931) and several partners that he would name "Johnny." Although Emory Perry was the most frequent of these, <a href="spotify:artist:6VWHWGvsfZm3cOsRCOqwq6">Phillips</a> also duetted with <a href="spotify:artist:4u0qFtN4NZ1NjcvAw3HAGU">Jesse Belvin</a> (making number two in the R&B chart, as Jesse & Marvin, with "Dream Girl"), <a href="spotify:artist:3AtDt3XcYhTpdmT3WPcsam">Carl Green</a>, and others, though <a href="spotify:artist:6VWHWGvsfZm3cOsRCOqwq6">Phillips</a> called <a href="spotify:artist:4N6ZeJMZv6aDwFKvrEX8Cl">Perry</a> "my main Johnny." Whoever was singing, Marvin & Johnny were significant, if not major, figures in the transition from West Coast jump blues to hotter sax-driven R&B sides that began to approach rock & roll; they were also forerunners of doo wop with their appealingly grainy harmonies and occasional sly sense of humor. Recording for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Specialty%22">Specialty</a> and Modern, they had a couple of Top Ten R&B hits, "Baby Doll" (1953) and "Tick Tock"/"Cherry Pie" (1954), and also issued several other strong singles, sometimes in a sort of updated <a href="spotify:artist:2nRbxpnBMMbtMBWH5QdqH2">Louis Jordan</a> style. They faded after the mid-'50s, although they would also record for Aladdin and several other small Los Angeles labels. ~ Richie Unterberger, Rovi
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