Rex Garvin
| Rex Garvin | |
|---|---|
| Born |
July 24, 1940 Harlem, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | December 2, 2013 (aged 73) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, soul |
| Occupation(s) | singer, songwriter, arranger |
| Instruments | vocal, keyboards |
| Years active | 1954–1975 |
| Labels | J&S, others |
| Associated acts |
The Hearts Johnnie and Joe Marie Knight Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers |
Rex Garvin (July 24, 1940 – December 2, 2013) was an American rhythm and blues singer, songwriter, keyboard player and arranger. His writing credits include the 1957 US chart hit "Over the Mountain; Across the Sea", by Johnnie and Joe, and his own 1966 recording "Sock It To 'Em J.B.", later recorded by The Specials.
Garvin was born in Harlem and raised by foster parents in the Bronx. He took piano lessons as a child. In 1954, he helped form The Hearts, a female vocal group with whom he sang bass, played piano and wrote and arranged songs. Managed by neighbour Zelma "Zell" Sanders, The Hearts' first record, "Lonely Nights", was issued on the Baton label in early 1955 and reached #8 on the Billboard R&B chart. He remained involved with the group as their pianist, arranger, musical director and (in their own word) "maestro" through various personnel changes during the 1950s, later explaining that he did so "mainly to meet girls". Members of The Hearts later performed as The Jaynetts.
At the same time, Garvin became Sanders' main assistant at J&S Records, which she set up in 1956, and he was responsible for the label's typical full, bottom-heavy piano-laden arrangements. The label's greatest successes came with the duo Johnnie and Joe, whose biggest hit "Over The Mountain, Across The Sea" (#8 Pop and #3 R&B in 1957) was written by Garvin, who also sang harmony vocals on the song and was credited as bandleader. The duo comprised Garvin's friend Joe Rivers, and Sanders' daughter Johnnie. The song was covered in 1963 by Bobby Vinton, whose version reached #21 on the Hot 100.
Garvin's own recording career started in 1957, with "My Darling Dear". In 1959, his vocal duet with Marie Knight as Marie and Rex on "I Can't Sit Down" reached #94 on the Billboard pop chart. He formed his own group, Rex Garvin and the Mighty Cravers, in 1961, releasing their first single, "Go Little Willie"/"Emulsified", on Epic Records; the single was reissued two years later by Okeh. The group toured widely on the "chitlin' circuit".
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