Junior Marvin

Biography

Junior Marvin also known as Junior Marvin-Hanson, Junior Hanson, Junior Kerr, and Julian Junior Marvin, is a Jamaican-born guitarist and singer best known for his association with Bob Marley and The Wailers. He started his career working with artists such as T-Bone Walker and as Junior Hanson when he formed the band Hanson in 1973. Marvin has also been associated with Gass and others such as Steve Winwood.

Early life

Born in Kingston, Surrey County, Jamaica, Marvin moved to London as a child where his love of both acting and music was nurtured.

Early years

Marvin appeared in the Beatles' film Help! as a child actor. He served his musical apprenticeship in USA by playing with artists including Toots and the Maytals, T-Bone Walker and Ike & Tina Turner. He later moved to England and played with the Keef Hartley band and the White Rabbit band.

Hanson and Bob Marley

In 1973, he formed the band Hanson and recorded two albums. after the second album Magic Dragon (1974) they disbanded. Marvin used a fuzzbox guitar effect when recording with the band and in session work. This sound and his prowess as a guitarist was noticed by The Wailers. He met Bob Marley on 14 February 1977. His use of this effect became an integral part of the Bob Marley and the Wailers’ sound on songs from their album Exodus and later songs, after he joined them. Hanson played as a member of Bob Marley and the Wailers until Marley's death in 1981.

Stevie Wonder, Wailer bands and other associations

Marvin turned down a ten year deal to work with Stevie Wonder at the same time he joined Bob Marley and the Wailers. After Marley’a death and along with the remaining Wailers members he formed The Wailers Band and they released the albums ID, Majestic Warriors, JAH Message and Live 95–97 My Friends. In 1997, Marvin left The Wailers Band and relocated to Brazil where he formed the short lived group Batuka. Following his return from Brazil, Marvin worked as a session musician for Kaliroots and The Wailers Band.

In 2007, Marvin recorded a solo album titled Wailin' For Love×Wailin' for Love2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 18 tracks1Life Without You4:212Burnin' Love4:153Supernatural3:104People4:155Our Day (Happy Family)3:486Children3:547Redemption Song5:118Preacher Man4:369Fight Them Back (With Love)3:5410Let Me Tell You Something3:5311It's Alright4:0112What A Feeling4:0513Some Say4:2214Totally Awesome4:2715Rock Steady3:5016Want To Hold You4:1317Love, Love, Love Today3:2718Supernatural (The Remix)4:11. During 2008, Marvin and guitarist Al Anderson formed The Original Wailers and toured with them until 2011. After leaving the Original Wailers Marvin returned to solo work and in 2019 he formed The Legendary Wailers.

Band membership

1965 – Blue-Ace-Unit with Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel.
1969 – White Rabbit with Linda Lewis.
1970 – Keef Hartley Band as Junior Kerr.
1973 – Hanson as Junior Hanson.
1977 – Bob Marley & The Wailers as Junior Marvin
1981 – The Wailers Band
1997 – Batuka
2005 – The Wailers Band
2008 – The Original Wailers
2011 – Junior Marvin
2013 – Junior Marvin & One Love
2014 – Junior Marvin's Force One
2015 – Junior Marvin's Wailers
2018 – The Wailers
2019 – Julian Junior Marvin´s Wailers
2020 - The Legendary Wailers

As a session musician

Gass Juju Polydor (1970) credited as Junior Kerr
Toots & the Maytals Reggae Got Soul (1976)
Delroy Washington I Sus (1976)
Stomu Yamashta, Steve Winwood, Michael Shrieve Go (1976) credited as Julian Marvin
Steve Winwood Steve Winwood (1977) credited as Junior Hanson or Julian [Jr] Marvin
Burning Spear Hail H.I.M. (1980) and The Fittest of the Fittest (1983)
Joe Higgs Blackman Know Yourself (1990)
Bunny Wailer Hall of Fame: A Tribute to Bob Marley (1995)
Don Carlos Prophecy (1995)
Culture Payday (1999)
Israel Vibration Jericho (2000)
Lenny Kravitz on Saturday Night Live, 20 January 2001
OAR "Any Time Now" and "Night Shift/Stir It Up," (2002)
Alpha Blondy Jah Victory (2007)
Quique Neira (Chile), Jah Rock (2007)
Jah Roots Joy Ganjah Records (2008)
Los Pericos "Pericos & Friends" (2010)
Regan Perry "Flow", Mash It Up Records (2013)

Bob Marley

Exodus (1977)
Kaya(1978)
Survival (1979)
Uprising (1980)
Confrontation (1983)
Legend:The best of Bob Marley and the Wailers (1984)

Wailers Band

ID (1989)
Majestic Warriors (1991)
JAH Message (1995)
My Friends (1997)

Solo albums

Wailin' For Love (2007)
Smokin' to the Big M Music (2013)
Lion to Zion-Dub Wise (2013)

Videos

Red Bull Music Academy Lecture with Junior Marvin (Montreal 2016)