Margie Evans

She has variously worked with Johnny Otis, Bobby Bland, T-Bone Walker, Big Joe Turner, Lowell Fulson, Joe Liggins, Lloyd Glenn, Willie Dixon, Al Bell, and Monk Higgins. Her main influences were Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, Big Maybelle and Big Mama Thornton. In addition to her musicianship, Evans was noted as a motivational speaker and rights activist, as well as a promoter of the legacy of blues music.

• Name — Margie Evans • Birth Name — Marjorie Ann Johnson • Born — 17 July 1939 • Birthplace — Shreveport, Louisiana, United States • Died — 19 March 2021 • Instrument — Vocals • Genre — Blues • Occupation — Singer, songwriter • Years Active — 1960s–present • Label — Various including United Artists, ICA and L & R Records

Marjorie Ann Johnson was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, in 1939. Raised as a devout church goer, Evans' early exposure to music was via gospel. In 1958, she moved to Los Angeles. She initially sang as a backing vocalist with Billy Ward between 1958 and 1964, before joining the Ron Marshall Orchestra between 1964 and 1969. She then successfully auditioned to join Johnny Otis Band. During her four-year stay there, she performed on The Johnny Otis Show Live at Monterey and Cuttin' Up albums. In addition to her recording and performing duties, Evans used her influence to help set up the Southern California Blues Society to help promote the art form through education and sponsorship. Evans commenced her solo career in 1973, and found almost immediate chart success. Her track "Good Feeling" (United Artists 246) entered the R&B chart on June 30, 1973 for four weeks, reaching number 55. However, it was another four years before "Good Thing Queen – Part 1" (ICA 002) entered the same chart listing on July 9, 1977 for eight weeks, peaking at number 47. In 1975 she supplied backing vocals on Donald Byrd's album, Stepping into Tomorrow. Also sandwiched between these hits, in November 1975, Evans appeared on German television filmed at the Berlin-based Jazz Tage concert with Johnny "Guitar" Watson, Bo Diddley and James Booker. Using Bobby Bland as her record producer and part-time song writing partner, Evans co-wrote the song "Soon As the Weather Breaks", which reached number 76 (R&B) for Bland in 1980. In 1980, Evans performed at the San Francisco Blues Festival and Long Beach Blues Festival, repeating the feat at the latter a year later. Her touring saw Evans take part in the American Folk Blues Festivals in 1981, 1982 and 1985. In 1983, Evans was granted the Keepin' the Blues Alive Award by the Blues Foundation. Performing into the early 1990s, Evans toured the United States, Canada and Europe, as well as appearing with Jay McShann at the Toronto Jazz Festival. In the same decade, Evans continued her welfare work, by helping to organise the 5-4 Optimist Club for children from the South Central Los Angeles district. Her 1996 album, Drowning in the Sea of Love was her last solo output. She recorded three albums with the Swiss blues singer Philipp Fankhauser in 1989, 1994 and 2016 respectively. In 2015 and 2016, Evans returned to the stage, guesting with Fankhauser in front of sold out venues throughout Switzerland. She died on March 19, 2021, aged 81.

• Year || Title || Record label || Producer • 1982 — Mistreated Woman — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann and Margie Evans • 1983 — Another Blues Day — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann • 1990 — Too Late Rising Sun — Marvic Music Co. — François Love and Margie Evans • 1996 — Blues Classics — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann • 1996 — Drowning in the Sea of Love — Terra Nova Records — Robert Susz

• Year || Title || Record label || Producer • 1973 — "Twenty Nine Ways" — Yambo Records — Willie Dixon • 1973 — "When I Make Love" — Yambo Records — Willie Dixon • 1973 — "Good Feeling" — United Artists — Monk Higgins • 1977 — "Good Thing Queen Part I" — ICA Recording Group — Monk Higgins • 1979 — "You Are To Me" — ICA Recording Group — Monk Higgins and Al Bell

• Year || Title || Artist || Record label || Producer || Vocals on • 1969 — Cuttin' Up — Johnny Otis Show — Epic — Johnny Otis — Three tracks • 1970 — Live at Monterey! — Johnny Otis Show — Epic — Johnny Otis — One track • 1981 — American Folk Blues Festival — Various Artists — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau — Four tracks • 1982 — American Folk Blues Festival — Various Artists — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau — Three tracks • 1982 — American Folk Blues Festival — Various Artists — Amiga Records — Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau — One track • 1985 — American Folk Blues Festival — Various Artists — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann and Fritz Rau — One track • 1985 — We Shall Walk Through The Valley in Peace — Rickey Grundy & Williams Family — L & R Records — Horst Lippmann and Margie Evans — Eight tracks • 1989 — Blues for the Lady — Philipp Fankhauser — Funk House Blues Prod. — Philipp Fankhauser — Four tracks • 1994 — Thun – San Francisco — Philipp Fankhauser — Funk House Blues Prod. — Philipp Fankhauser and H. Raymondaz — Three tracks • 2016 — Unplugged – Live at Mühle Hunziken — Philipp Fankhauser — Funk House Blues Prod. — Marco Jencarelli — Nine tracks