In the 1920s, he was one of the most celebrated ukulele performers and
crooners of the era. Billing himself as "Honey Duke and His Uke" then
as "Johnny Marvin, the Ukulele Ace" his recorded output was prodigious.
Among his many hits from the 1920s: "Oh How She Could Play the
Ukulele," "Red Lips, Kiss My Blues Away," "If You See Sally," "There's
Something Nice About Everyone (But There's Everything Nice About You)"
and many others. He even had a brand of ukulele named for him, which
sported his face on the headstock and was noted for its unique
airplane-shaped bridge. As the ukulele craze of the 20s faded, Marvin
retired. When the stock market crashed, however, he lost his savings
and came out of retirement, reinventing himself as a cowboy songwriting
partner to
Gene Autry, providing him with a second equally noteworthy
career that lasted until his death.
