American ukelele player and vocalist who started recording in 1924. b.July 11, 1897 Butler, OK; d.December 10, 1944, North Hollywood, CA. lifespan could also be July 11, 1887, Butler, Oklahoma, United States Died: December 20, 1945 - derived from various sources.
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," "Theres Something Nice About Everyone (But Theres 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).
His death was contributed to the contraction of malaria while traveling overseas to entertain the troops during WWII which he refused medical treatment for due to his Christian Science beliefs.
