Come to Me (Marv Johnson song)

"Come to Me"
"Come to Me"
SinglebyMarv Johnson
from the albumMarvelous Marv Johnson
B-side	"Whisper"
Released	May 1959
Recorded	February 1959,United Sound Systems,Detroit
Genre	Doo-wop,rhythm and blues
Length	2:23
Label	Tamla; T 101; United Artists(re-issue); UA 160
Songwriter(s)	Marv Johnson; Berry Gordy
Producer(s)	Berry Gordy
Marv Johnsonsingles chronology

"Come to Me"is the debut single byAmericansingerMarv Johnson.^[1]This tune was the first single to be released on the newly formed Tamla Records label, which eventually became a subdivision of the famedMotownlabel. It also became Johnson's first hit single after the song was nationally distributed byUnited Artists.It was recorded atUnited Sound Systems.^[2]

Background

In 1958, Marv Johnson was singing with a local group the Serenaders in Detroit. It was while performing at a carnival in Michigan that Johnson was noted by rising record label impresarioBerry Gordy,who was looking to sign acts into his fledgling company. Originally the label was to be called Tammy Records, which he named after theDebbie Reynoldshit, "Tammy",that is until a record label of the same name took notice, forcing Gordy to alter the name toTamla Records.After discovering Johnson, he convinced him to sign with Tamla and in February 1959, the 20-year-old Johnson co-wrote and recorded the song, "Come to Me". Gordy assembled several musicians, including bassistJames Jamersonand drummerBenny Benjamin,and background vocalists the Rayber Voices, to contribute to the song with Johnson.

Charts

"Come to Me" was first distributed by Tamla in May 1959 and was a local hit in the Midwest. Since Tamla was still a local company and was unable to get national distribution to the record, Gordy sold rights of the song toUnited Artistswho agreed to distribute the song nationally. The plan worked as the song began to be a national hit at the end of 1959. By early 1960, the song had reached number 30 on theBillboardHot 100and number 6 on the national R&B chart.^[3]^[4]Johnson would record in Motown's studios while recording for United Artists. Johnson returned to Motown in the late 1960s after his success peaked in the mid-1960s.

In 1990, Johnson re-recorded the song for an album he recorded forMotorcity Records.

Credits

Lead vocals by Marv Johnson
Background vocals byThe Rayber Voices(Raynoma Liles Gordy,Brian Holland,Sonny Sanders,andRobert Bateman)
Written by Berry Gordy and Marv Johnson
Produced and arranged by Berry Gordy

References

^The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 1: 1959-1961 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.
^Graham Betts.The Motown Encyclopedia.AC Publishing, 2014.
^Come to Me at Allmusic
^Whitburn, Joel(2004).Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004.Record Research.

[1] The Complete Motown Singles Vol. 1: 1959-1961 [CD liner notes]. New York: Hip-O Select/Motown/Universal Records.

[2] Graham Betts.The Motown Encyclopedia.AC Publishing, 2014.

[3] Come to Me at Allmusic

[4] Whitburn, Joel(2004).Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004.Record Research.

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