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)***.