Biography for
Johnny Marvin (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

11 July 1897, Butler, Indian Territory, USA. [now Oklahoma, USA]

Date of Death

20 December 1944, North Hollywood, California, USA (heart attack)

Birth Name

John Senator Marvin

Trivia

In the 1920s, he was one of the most celebrated ukulele performers and crooners of the era. Billing himself as "Honey Duke and His Uke" then as "Johnny Marvin, the Ukulele Ace" his recorded output was prodigious. Among his many hits from the 1920s: "Oh How She Could Play the Ukulele," "Red Lips, Kiss My Blues Away," "If You See Sally," "There's Something Nice About Everyone (But There's Everything Nice About You)" and many others. He even had a brand of ukulele named for him, which sported his face on the headstock and was noted for its unique airplane-shaped bridge. As the ukulele craze of the 20s faded, Marvin retired. When the stock market crashed, however, he lost his savings and came out of retirement, reinventing himself as a cowboy songwriting partner to Gene Autry, providing him with a second equally noteworthy career that lasted until his death.

Inducted into the Ukulele Hall of Fame in 2003.

Brother of Frankie Marvin (Frank James Marvin),(1904-1985).