Marie Adams facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marie Adams
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Ollie Marie Givens |
| Also known as | Ollie Marie Adams "TV Mama" |
| Born | October 19, 1925 Linden, Texas, United States |
| Died | February 23, 1998 (aged 72) Houston, Texas, United States |
| Genres | R&B, gospel, pop |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | c.1950–1980 |
| Labels | Peacock, Capitol |
Marie Adams was a talented American singer. She was born as Ollie Marie Givens on October 19, 1925. Marie became famous in the 1950s for her gospel and R&B music. She often worked with the musician Johnny Otis. Marie Adams passed away on February 23, 1998.
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Early Life and Music Beginnings
Marie Adams was born in Linden, Texas. When she was young, she loved to sing in gospel groups. After she got married, she started performing in Houston, Texas. At first, she used the name Ollie Marie Adams. Later, she decided to just use Marie Adams.
First Recordings with Peacock Records
Marie Adams made her very first recordings with Peacock Records. This record company was owned by Don Robey. She sang with Bill Harvey's band. In 1952, her song "I'm Gonna Play the Honky Tonks" became very popular. It reached number 3 on the Billboard R&B chart. This was the most successful song for Peacock Records at that time. She released seven songs with Peacock Records. One of them was a cover version of "My Song" by Johnny Ace.
Touring and Joining Johnny Otis
In the early 1950s, Marie Adams traveled a lot. She performed in shows with famous musicians. Some of these included Johnny Ace, Jimmy Forrest, B.B. King, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and Lloyd Price.
Becoming "TV Mama"
In 1953, Marie Adams joined the Johnny Otis band. She became a main singer for the group. She moved to Los Angeles to work with them. After Johnny Ace passed away, Marie recorded a song called "In Memory" to honor him. A famous radio DJ, Alan Freed, played it often.
Marie toured with Johnny Otis for many years in the 1950s. She was a very popular live performer. People started calling her "TV Mama." This nickname came from her "wide screen" size, which meant she had a big stage presence.
Forming The Three Tons of Joy
Marie Adams was a very important part of the Johnny Otis Revue. She asked her sisters, Sadie and Francine McKinley, to join her. Together, they formed a singing group called The Three Tons of Joy. This was a fun name because the three women together weighed around 800 pounds!
Success with Capitol Records
In 1957, Johnny Otis and his band signed with Capitol Records. This was a big record company. Capitol Records released four songs by Johnny Otis at the same time. One of these was "Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me".
Hit Song in the UK
The song "Ma! He's Making Eyes at Me" was special. It had sounds of an audience cheering added to it. The song was credited to Johnny Otis and his Orchestra, with Marie Adams and The Three Tons of Joy. This song did not become a hit in the United States. However, it was released in the United Kingdom. In early 1958, it became a huge hit there, reaching number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
To follow up on this success, Marie Adams and Johnny Otis recorded a duet. Their song "Bye Bye Baby" also became popular in Britain. It reached number 20 on the charts. Other songs they recorded together were not as successful.
Later Career and Retirement
In early 1960, Marie Adams and The Three Tons of Joy left the Johnny Otis Show. They continued to perform in the Los Angeles area. Marie Adams also recorded songs for smaller record companies in the early 1960s.
In 1972, Marie Adams started working with Johnny Otis again. She went on tour in Britain for the first time. She kept performing with Johnny Otis for most of the 1970s. After that, she decided to retire from singing.
Marie Adams passed away in Houston in 1998. She was 72 years old.
