Marvin Etzioni

Marvin Elan Etzioni is an American singer, mandolinist, bassist, and record producer. Also known as the Mandolin Man, Etzioni is best known as a founder of, and bassist for, the band Lone Justice. He is a noted record producer and has released three solo albums.[1]

Marvin Etzioni
Birth nameMarvin Elan Etzioni
BornBrooklyn, New York
GenresRock music, alt-country
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsVocals, mandolin, mandocello, guitar, bass, piano, Mellotron, keyboards
Years active1976–present
Associated actsLone Justice, Sin City All Stars, Thee Holy Brothers
Websitewww.marvincountry.com

Biography

Early years

Etzioni grew up in Brooklyn, then moved to Los Angeles. His grandfather sparked an early interest in country music by compiling mix tapes, and gifting Etzioni a mandolin at age eight.[2] In high school, Etzioni sang and played drums in the band Prudence Goodbody.[3][4]

In 1976, Etzioni led the band Model, who shared stages with the Plimsouls and the Motels. Model recorded with producers Chuck Plotkin and Richard Baskin, but nothing was officially released.[5] Then in 1980 Etzioni began performed solo acoustic gigs in Los Angeles.[6]

Lone Justice

In 1982, Etzioni met Ryan Hedgecock, who shared his love for country and roots music. Hedgecock was already performing with Maria McKee. Hedgecock and McKee asked Etzioni to back them on bass duties, along with drummer Don Heffington and the band Lone Justice was launched.[7]

Etzioni was a member of Lone Justice from 1983 to 1986, during which he encouraged them to write original material, and contributed the songs "East of Eden," "Working Late," "You Are the Light," and "Soap, Soup and Salvation" (written with McKee).[8]

In 1993, Etzioni and Heffington backed McKee on her solo album You Gotta Sin to Get Saved, and were part of her band in the subsequent tour.[9]

Production and songwriting

Etzioni has produced for numerous artists, including Peter Case,[10] Counting Crows,[5] and Toad the Wet Sprocket.[11] Etzioni's compositions have been covered by Cheap Trick, Victoria Williams, Julie Miller and Judy Collins. Etzioni produced and wrote songs with the Williams Brothers (Andy Williams' nephews Andrew and David). Together with David Williams, Etzioni co-wrote "Can't Cry Hard Enough" which became his most successful song.[3]

Solo recordings

In the 1990s, Etzioni recorded and released three albums: The Mandolin Man (1991), Bone (1992) and Weapons of the Spirit (1994).[12][13] Etzioni employs the analog-vinyl-digital (AVD) technique, in which his master tapes are converted first to vinyl, and the vinyl is recorded to digital for the final product.[11]

In 2012, Etzioni released the 2-disc album Marvin Country on Nine Mile Records. On the album, which had been in development since 1985, Etzioni played mandolin, mandocello, guitar, bass, piano, Mellotron, porchboard and keyboards. Included are duets with Lucinda Williams ("Lay It on the Table"),[14] Steve Earle ("Ain't No Work in Mississippi"), Richard Thompson ("It Don't Cost Much"), Buddy Miller ("Living Like a Hobo"), John Doe ("The Grapes of Wrath").,[15] Maria McKee ("You Possess Me"), and the Dixie Hummingbirds ("You Are the Light").[16] For most songs, the backing band was Heffington (drums), Steve Fishell (pedal steel), Gurf Morlix (bass), Tammy Rogers (fiddle), and Buddy Miller and Duane Jarvis (guitar).[17]

Sin City All Stars

Etzioni was part of the Sin City All Stars which was a one-off band for a 2004 Gram Parsons tribute concert that was captured and released on both CD and DVD.[18]

Thee Holy Brothers

Long-time friends Etzioni and Willie Aron (of the band Balancing Act) collaborated as Thee Holy Brothers, and released the album My Name Is Sparkle on the Peermusic label. Their band name was provided by their rabbi. Nine songs are presented in two acts, addressing the topic of spiritual grace. Thematically, the album has been likened to George Harrison's All Things Must Pass and Pete Townshend's Who Came First.[7]

Discography

Solo albums
  • 1992: The Mandolin Man (Regional)[19]
  • 1992: Bone (Restless)[20]
  • 1994: Weapons of the Spirit (Restless)[21]
  • 2012: Marvin Country (Nine Mile)[22]

With Lone Justice

With Thee Holy Brothers

With The Sin City All Stars

As composer

As producer

Other appearances

References
  1. Martin Chilton (May 2, 2012). "Marvin Etzioni, Marvin Country! CD review". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  2. "Marvin Country - Interview: Mark Etzioni". Citizen LA. June 1, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  3. "Marvin Etzioni: "Marvin Country" (Nine Mile Records)". Coachella Valley Weekly. June 11, 2015. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  4. "Marvin Etzioni". ArtistTrove. Archived from the original on September 14, 2017. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  5. Bryan Reesman (November 1, 1999). "Marvin Etzioni: Lost in the Moment". Mix Magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  6. Dan MacIntosh (February 7, 2013). "Marvin Etzioni of Lone Justice". Songfacts. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  7. Eleni P. Austin (November 2, 2016). "Thee Holy Brothers 'My Name Is Sparkle' (peermusic)". Coachella Valley Weekly. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  8. Morris, Chris (July 1, 1985). "Justice at Last". Spin. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  9. Lance Davis (April 23, 2013). "Keeps Me Wonderin' What Might've Been". The Adios Lounge. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  10. Sullivan, Denise (2001). Rip it Up!: Rock & Roll Rulebreakers. ISBN 9780879306359. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  11. Bill Locey (June 25, 1992). "Stringing Along : It's passionate, it's from the heart and it cuts to the bone. And he's closer to Jimi Hendrix than Bill Monroe". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  12. Randy Krbechek (September 7, 1994). "Interview with Marvin Etzioni". CD Shakedown. Archived from the original on May 20, 2015. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  13. Appleford, Steve (April 5, 1992). "'Mandolin Man' Reflects Thoughts From the Heart of Ex-Lone Justice Rocker". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  14. Evan Schlansky (March 15, 2012). "Guest Blog & Song Premiere: Marvin Etzioni and Lucinda Williams, "Lay It On The Table"". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  15. Catherine Fuentes (April 5, 2012). "Song Exclusive: Marvin Etzioni's Spirited 'The Grapes Of Wrath' featuring John Doe". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  16. Holly Gleason (August 1, 2012). "Marvin Etzioni: Marvin Country". Lone Star Music. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  17. "Marvin Etzioni - Marvin Country". American Roots UK. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  18. Weiss, Neal (August 31, 2004). "Gram Parsons Tribute - Universal Amphitheatre (Universal City, CA)". No Depression. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  19. Himes, Geoffrey (May 17, 1992). "Team Players Breaking Out in Solo Debuts". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  20. Sandler, Adam (October 12, 1992). "Restless Etzioni breaks out 'Bone'". Variety. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  21. Verna, Paul; Marilyn A. Gillen; Peter Cronin (May 14, 1994). "Album Reviews". Billboard. Retrieved September 6, 2017.
  22. Paul Kerr (April 1, 2012). "Marvin Etzioni. Marvin Country!". Blabber 'n' Smoke. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  23. Zollo, Paul (May 31, 2017). "The Paul Zollo Blog: Reflections On New Albums From Peter Case, Athena, Thee Holy Brothers". American Songwriter. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
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