MARVELOWS

Formed in Chicago Heights, Illinois, USA, in 1959, Melvin Mason, Willie “Sonny” Stevenson, Frank Paden and Johnny Paden were originally known as the Mystics. They became the Marvelows in 1964, following the addition of Jesse Smith. The group was then signed to ABC Records, and enjoyed a hit the following year with the euphoric “I Do”, which combined equal traces of doo-wop and Chicago soul (this excellent song was later revived in 1977 by the J. Geils Band). The Marvelows replaced Jesse Smith with Andrew Thomas in 1967, and the following year hit with a soft ballad, “In The Morning”, The Marvelows broke up in 1969, but reformed briefly in 1974.

Discography: The Mighty Marvelows (ABC-Paramount 1968)***.

Compilations: with the Esquires Chi-Town Showdown (1982)***.