Marvin Tarplin (June 13, 1941 – September 30, 2011) was an American musician, best known as the guitarist for
the Miracles
The Miracles (later known as Smokey Robinson and the Miracles from 1965 to 1972) were an American vocal group formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1955. They were the first successful recording act for Motown Records and are considered one of the most ...
from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group's original members and co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 1965
Grammy
The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious a ...
Hall Of Fame-inducted "
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a 1965 song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Record's Tamla subsidiary label . It was composed by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. This million-selling, multiple award- ...
". He is also a winner of the
BMI Songwriter's Award, and the
ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...
Award Of Merit, and was a 2012 posthumous inductee into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...
with the Miracles.
Biography
Referred to as the Miracles' "secret weapon", Tarplin began his career accompanying
the Supremes
The Supremes were an American girl group formed in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959 as the Primettes. A premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s, the Supremes were the most commercially successful of Motown's acts and the most successful Amer ...
, who at the time were still teenagers, and known as the Primettes. They were seeking an audition with
Motown Records
Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
, and Tarplin played guitar as they performed for Miracles lead singer
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...
. Robinson was impressed by Tarplin's guitar playing, and lured him away from the Primettes to join the Miracles in 1958. In the 2006 Motown DVD release, ''Smokey Robinson & the Miracles: The Definitive Performances 1963–1987'', Robinson and fellow Miracles
Pete Moore and
Bobby Rogers
Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a founding member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Mira ...
commented that Tarplin's guitar playing style was reminiscent of the late
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis Lee Mayfield (June 3, 1942 – December 26, 1999) was an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. Dubbed the " Gentle Genius", he is considered one of the most influential musicians of soul and socially conscious Afric ...
, and was the inspiration behind many of their greatest hits. His guitar riffs at the beginning of the Miracles' 1965 ''
Grammy Hall of Fame
The Grammy Hall of Fame is a hall of fame to honor musical recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance. Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of eminent and knowledgeable professionals from all branches of ...
'' million-seller, "
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a 1965 song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Record's Tamla subsidiary label . It was composed by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. This million-selling, multiple award- ...
", are among the most famous in pop music history.
Whilst Tarplin remained with the Miracles for as long as Robinson was their lead singer, he is only present on the cover of three classic Miracles albums: ''
Cookin' with the Miracles'' (1962), ''
I'll Try Something New'' (1962), and ''
The Fabulous Miracles'' (1963). He is mentioned, though not pictured, on the back cover of the group's very first album, ''
Hi... We're the Miracles'' (1961), and listed as an original group member. As a songwriter, Tarplin helped co-compose many of the Miracles' hit singles, amongst them the million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame winner "
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a 1965 song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Record's Tamla subsidiary label . It was composed by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. This million-selling, multiple award- ...
" for which he received the
ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...
Award of Merit (1965), "
My Girl Has Gone
"My Girl Has Gone" is a 1965 R&B single recorded by the Miracles for Motown's Tamla label. Included on their 1965 album '' Going to a Go-Go'', "My Girl Has Gone" was the follow-up to the group's number 16 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 million-selling hi ...
" (1965), "
I Like It Like That", (1964), "
Going to a Go-Go" (1965), "
The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage" (1967), and "
Point It Out" (1968).
In addition, Tarplin co-wrote several Robinson-produced hits by
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player an ...
, including the
Top 10 million selling hits, "
Ain't That Peculiar
"Ain't That Peculiar" is a 1965 song recorded by the American soul musician Marvin Gaye for the Tamla (Motown) label.
Background
The single was produced by Smokey Robinson, and written by Robinson, and fellow Miracles members Bobby Rogers, P ...
" and "
I'll Be Doggone". His guitar work was featured on Gaye's
Top 40
In the music industry, the Top 40 is a list of the 40 currently most popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "To ...
hit, "
One More Heartache", which he also co-wrote, and another of Gaye's chart hits, 1965's "
Take This Heart of Mine". He also played on
The Four Tops
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
1970 Top 20 hit, "
Still Water (Love)
"Still Water (Love)" is a 1970 hit single written by Smokey Robinson and Frank Wilson (who also produced the track) for the Motown singing group Four Tops. The B-side was "Still Water (Peace)" and both songs appear on the 1970 album '' Still Wa ...
", co-written by Robinson, and
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American girl group formed in Inkster, Michigan, Inkster, Michigan in 1960, consisting of schoolmates Gladys Horton, Katherine Anderson, Georgeanna Tillman, Juanita Cowart (now Cowart Motley), and Georgia Dobbins, who was ...
' 1967 Top 20 hit, "
My Baby Must Be a Magician". Tarplin also appeared with the group on ''
The Ed Sullivan Show
''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York City, New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the ''CB ...
'', the 1964 film, ''
The T.A.M.I. Show
''The'' is a grammatical article in English, denoting nouns that are already or about to be mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The ...
'', the 1965
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc., commonly shortened to CBS (an abbreviation of its original name, Columbia Broadcasting System), is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the CBS Entertainme ...
television special, ''
Murray The K – It's What's Happening, Baby
''Murray the K – It's What's Happening, Baby'' was a television special aired on CBS-TV on June 28, 1965 and hosted by Murray the K. The special featured performances by many of the popular artists of the day such as Jan and Dean, Mary Wells, t ...
'', and virtually all of the group's personal appearance concerts worldwide, including the
Motortown Revue
The Motortown Revue was the name given to the package concert tours of Motown artists in the 1960s. Early tours featured Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, Mary Wells, The Marvelettes, Barrett Strong, and The Contours as headlining acts, and gave the ...
shows in the early 1960s. Marv also appeared onstage with the Miracles on the 1983
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company (NBC) is an American commercial broadcast television and radio network serving as the flagship property of the NBC Entertainment division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. It is one of NBCUniversal's ...
-TV music special ''
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'' .
Tarplin left the Miracles in 1973, shortly after Smokey Robinson and his wife
Claudette left the group. His replacement in the Miracles was Donald Griffin, brother of
Billy Griffin
William L. Griffin (born August 15, 1950) is an American singer and songwriter. He replaced Smokey Robinson as the lead singer of the Miracles in 1972.
Biography
Griffin was born and raised in West Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Garrison Juni ...
(Robinson's replacement in the group).
Robinson and Tarplin continued to collaborate as writers on Robinson's solo recordings, including hits such as "
Cruisin'" (1979–1980) and "
Being with You" (1981). Tarplin also continued to play guitar on record and in concert for Robinson, and, until 2008, continued to tour with Robinson. In 2007,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Milwaukee is the List of cities in Wisconsin, most populous city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located on the western shore of Lake Michigan, it is the List of United States cities by population, 31st-most populous city in the United States ...
musician,
Paul Cebar, paid homage to Tarplin with his song "Marv's Fluttering Guitar (For Marv Tarplin)" from the album ''Tomorrow Sound Now For Yes Music People''.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame controversy
In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, in a decision that has since sparked much scrutiny, debate, and controversy, Tarplin, and the other original members of the Miracles,
Bobby Rogers
Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a founding member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Mira ...
,
Ronnie White
Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1938 – August 26, 1995) was an American baritone singer, best known as the co-founder of the Miracles and its only consistent original member. White was also known for bringing Stevie Wonder to the attention of ...
,
Pete Moore and
Claudette Robinson, were not. The Miracles were finally retroactively inducted into the hall by a special committee in 2012, alongside Smokey Robinson. Tarplin retired from touring in 2008 and is pictured on the cover of the 2009 Motown CD release ''
The Miracles – Depend On Me: The Early Albums''.
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2012
On February 9, 2012 (just 5 months after his death), it was announced that Marv Tarplin would be posthumously inducted with the rest of the Miracles into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...
alongside group lead singer Smokey Robinso
This induction occurred on April 14, 2012. After a 26-year wait, Marvin was automatically and retroactively inducted with the rest of the original Miracles,
Bobby Rogers
Robert Edward Rogers (February 19, 1940 – March 3, 2013) was an American musician and tenor singer, best known as a founding member of Motown vocal group the Miracles from 1956 until his death. He was inducted, in 2012, as a member of the Mira ...
,
Pete Moore,
Claudette Rogers Robinson, Claudette Robinson, and
Ronnie White
Ronald Anthony White (April 5, 1938 – August 26, 1995) was an American baritone singer, best known as the co-founder of the Miracles and its only consistent original member. White was also known for bringing Stevie Wonder to the attention of ...
into
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and th ...
alongside Miracles lead singer
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...
. The induction was handled by a special committee designated in 2012 to induct the Miracles and five other pioneering groups that had been overlooked when their lead singers had been inducted into the Rock Hall many years previously. This induction occurred without the usual process of nomination and voting, under the premise that ''the entire group'' should have been inducted with Smokey Robinson back in 1987.
Later years and death
Three years after leaving Robinson, Tarplin died in his
Las Vegas
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
home of undetermined causes on September 30, 2011. He was 70. Tarplin had three daughters, named Talese, Lisa and Eboney.
Compositions
Tarplin wrote the music for numerous songs, including several of Motown's biggest hits. Here is a partial list:
* "I Can't Believe", The Miracles (1962)
* "
I Like It Like That", The Miracles (1964, No. 27 Pop)
* "You're So Fine And Sweet", The Miracles
* "
Come On Do The Jerk", The Miracles (1964, # 50 Pop, No. 22 R&B)
* "
Ain't That Peculiar
"Ain't That Peculiar" is a 1965 song recorded by the American soul musician Marvin Gaye for the Tamla (Motown) label.
Background
The single was produced by Smokey Robinson, and written by Robinson, and fellow Miracles members Bobby Rogers, P ...
", Marvin Gaye (1965, No. 8 Pop, No. 1 R&B)
* "
The Tracks of My Tears
"The Tracks of My Tears" is a 1965 song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Record's Tamla subsidiary label . It was composed by Miracles members Smokey Robinson, Pete Moore, and Marv Tarplin. This million-selling, multiple award- ...
", The Miracles (1965, No. 16 Pop, No. 2 R&B)
* "
My Girl Has Gone
"My Girl Has Gone" is a 1965 R&B single recorded by the Miracles for Motown's Tamla label. Included on their 1965 album '' Going to a Go-Go'', "My Girl Has Gone" was the follow-up to the group's number 16 ''Billboard'' Hot 100 million-selling hi ...
", The Miracles (1965, No. 14 Pop, No. 3 R&B)
* "
Going to a Go-Go", The Miracles (1965, No. 11 Pop, No. 2 R&B)
* "My Business, Your Pleasure", The Miracles
* "
One More Heartache", Marvin Gaye (1966, No. 29 Pop, No. 4 R&B)
* "
Take This Heart of Mine", Marvin Gaye (1966, No. 44 Pop)
* "
I'll Be Doggone", Marvin Gaye (1966 # 1 R&B, # 8 Pop)
* "You're Not An Ordinary Girl", The Temptations (1966)
* "
The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1967, No. 20 Pop, No. 10 R&B)
* Dancing's Alright", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1967)
* "
Doggone Right", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969, No. 32 Pop)
* "
Point It Out", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969, No. 37 Pop)
* "Promise Me", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)
* "So Far", The Four Tops (1969)
* "The Hurt Is Over", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)
* "You Neglect Me"", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)
* "Flower Girl", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1970)
* "Precious Little Things", The Supremes (1972)
* "Baby Come Close", Smokey Robinson (1973, No. 27 Pop)
* "Just My Soul Responding", Smokey Robinson (1973)
* "Asleep on My Love", Smokey Robinson (1974)
* "Fulfill Your Need", Smokey Robinson (1974)
* "Just Passing Through", Smokey Robinson (1974)
* "Open", Smokey Robinson (1976, No. 81 Pop)
* "Madam X", Smokey Robinson (1978)
* "
Cruisin'", Smokey Robinson (1979, No. 4 Pop)
* "I've Made Love To You A Thousand Times" (1983, No. 68 R&B)
* "Why Do Memories Hurt So Bad", Smokey Robinson (1987)
* "The Philly Dog", Earl Van Dyke
* "Baby I'm Glad Things Worked Out So Well", Marvin Gaye
* "Lost For Words", The Four Tops
Awards
* Tarplin, and the other Miracles (except Claudette), has been a multiple winner of The
BMI Songwriters Award .
* Tarplin, along with fellow Miracles
Pete Moore and
Smokey Robinson
William "Smokey" Robinson Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. He was the founder and frontman of the pioneering Motown vocal group the Miracles, for which he ...
, was the winner of "The Award Of Merit" from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (
ASCAP
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) () is an American not-for-profit performance-rights organization (PRO) that collectively licenses the public performance rights of its members' musical works to venues, broadc ...
) for co- composing "The Tracks of My Tears".
* British music magazine ''
Mojo
Mojo may refer to:
* Mojo (African-American culture), a magical charm bag used in Hoodoo
Arts, entertainment and media Film and television
* ''Mojo'' (2017 film), a 2017 Indian Kannada drama film written and directed by Sreesha Belakvaadi
* '' ...
'' chose Tarplin as one of the '100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time'.
* The Miracles (including Tarplin), were honored with a star on the
Hollywood Walk Of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a landmark which consists of 2,813 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in the Hollywood, Los Angeles, Hollywood dist ...
on March 20, 2009.
*The Miracles, including Tarplin, were retroactively inducted into the
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (RRHOF), also simply referred to as the Rock Hall, is a museum and hall of fame located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on the shore of Lake Erie. The museum documents the history of rock music and the ...
by a special committee in 2012.
References
External links
Marv Tarplin Tribute SitePrinted interview with Marv Tarplin of The Miracles- from the ''Soul Patrol'' website
*
Allmusic biography
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...
Marv Tarplin of ''The Miracles''-a Through-the Years Photo Gallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tarplin, Marv
1941 births
2011 deaths
Songwriters from Georgia (U.S. state)
Motown artists
African-American guitarists
African-American songwriters
American soul guitarists
American male guitarists
Musicians from Atlanta
The Miracles members
American rhythm and blues guitarists
American lead guitarists
Guitarists from Georgia (U.S. state)
Guitarists from Detroit
20th-century American guitarists