Bobby Marchan
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Bobby Marchan (born 30 April 1930 in Youngstown, Ohio, deceased, age 69, date of 5 December 1999; given name - Oscar James Gibson) was a famous and well-respected American rhythm and blues bandleader, MC, singer-performer, recording artist, and female impersonator who initially began performing in New Orleans nightclubs, specifically the Dew Drop Inn and the Club Tiajuana in the mid-1950s.
Mr. Marchan also toured with the band of Huey "Piano" Smith, sometimes performing as lead singer / bandleader and substituting vocally for Huey Smith (who reputedly often would stay in New Orleans to write and record while his namesake band "Huey Smith and the Clowns" played clubs and toured on the road).
One of Bobby Marchan's vocal performances with Huey Smith and the Clowns can be heard on the legendary New Orleans R&B recording, "Don't You Just Know It" recorded and released in 1958. Bobby Marchan also had a solo #1 hit on the national R&B charts in 1960 with the tune "There is Something on your Mind."
In the second photo to the right (standing on the left and NOT in drag) Bobby Marchan is shown acting as MC of the troupe of female impersonators named the "Powder Box Revue" at the Dew Drop Inn, at 2836 LaSalle Street in uptown New Orleans, taken likely somewhere around or between 1953 and the mid 1950s.
In-depth and extended biographical information about Bobby Marchand's life and recorded discography can be read at the links provided below.
Photo to the right of Bobby Marchan in "full drag" is posted at and shared courtesy of Queer Music Heritage (see link below).
[edit] External links
- B Marchan short Bio & discography from allmusic
- NOLA Picayune article / obituary by Jeff Hannusch
- Bobby Marchan by Queer Music Heritage
- Bobby Marchan Biography
- Recordings: The Very Best of Bobby Marchan with audio samples
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