Quick Facts
Biography
Junior Marvin (born 1949 as Donald Hanson Marvin Kerr Richards Jr) also known as Junior Marvin-Hanson, Junior Hanson and Junior Kerr, is a Jamaican-born guitarist and singer best known for his association with Bob Marley and The Wailers. He started his career as Junior Hanson with the band Hanson in 1973. Marvin has also been associated with Gass, Keef Hartley Band, Toots & the Maytals and Steve Winwood. In 2007, Marvin recorded a solo album entitled Wailin' For Love. In 2008 Marvin, along with Al Anderson, formed The Original Wailers and Junior left this Band in April 2011.
Biography
Born in Jamaica, Marvin moved to London as a child, where his love of both acting and music was nurtured. He appeared in the Beatles’ film “Help”, which was followed by a number of other television appearances. Meanwhile, Marvin served his musical apprenticeship in America by playing with the likes of Blues Legend T-Bone Walker and Ike & Tina Turner. Back in England he played with bands such as Herbie Goins & The Nighttimers, Blue Ace Unit and White Rabbit.
In 1973 Marvin formed the band Hanson and recorded two albums. Marvin met Bob Marley on February 14, 1977 and joined Bob Marley and The Wailers. After the death of Bob Marley in 1981, Marvin along with the remaining Wailers members formed The Wailers Band and 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 a short-lived group called Batuka. Following his departure from Brazil, Marvin worked as a session musician for Kaliroots and The Wailers Band. In 2008, Marvin formed along with Al Anderson The Original Wailers and toured with them until 2011. After departing from The Original Wailers, Marvin returned to solo work.
On February 6, 2013 Marvin released two albums: Smokin' To The Big M Music and Lion To Zion. In March 2014, Marvin formed a new band, Junior Marvin's Force One and returned to the studio to record a new album.
Associations
Bands
- 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
Sessions
- 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
- O.A.R. "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)
Wailers Band albums
- I.D. (1989)
- Majestic Warriors (1991)
- JAH Message (1995)
- My Friends (1997)
Solo albums
- Wailin' For Love (2007)