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  R&B and blues singer, song writer, bandleader, master of ceremonies, company chairman and female impersonator Oscar James Gibson (Bobby Marchan), a stalwart of the New Orleans music and drag scenes for 50 years, was born in Youngstown, Ohio on 30 April 1930. He was also known as Bobby Fields.  In his teens he was fascinated by blues music and female impersonators, and he formed a performing drag troupe called the Powder Box Revue, who became regulars at the Dew Drop Inn and The Club Tijuana.  He made his first recording, "Have Mercy" with Cosimo Matassa in 1954. He recorded for Dot Records then was signed to Ace Records (who thought he was female). In 1957 he joined Huey Piano Smith and The Clowns, performing on engagements while Huey stayed in New Orleans recording while his band toured without him. He sings on "Don't You Just Know It" and other tracks.  He left the Clowns in 1959, signing with Bobby Robinson for his Fire label. "There is something o...

Record producer, talent scout, composer and record company owner John Vincent Imbraguglio  (Johnny Vincent) was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on 3 October 1927. After high school he joined the Merchant Marines.  In the late 1940s he moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where he opened a record shop. In 1953 Art Rupe offered him a job at Specialty Records as talent scout and record producer, his biggest success being "The things I used to do" by Guitar Slim, which featured musical arrangement by Ray Charles. He left Specialty in 1955 to form his own company. Despite being located in Mississippi, at 209 West Capitol Street, (pictured below), Ace Records became incredibly important for New Orleans music. The company's first hit, "These Lonely Lonely Nights," featured New Orleans blues artist Earl King. Ace Records was successful through the late 1950s and into the 1960s, but as more record companies such as Minit began popping up in New Orleans, and he started experie...

  Songwriter, record producer and record label owner Melvin R. "Mel" London was born in Mississippi on 9 April 1932. He migrated to Chicago. In 1954 his song "Poison Ivy" recorded by Willie Mabon was a major success reaching no.7 on the R&B chart. In 1955 he had three hits including "Mannish Boy". He launched Chief Records in 1957. Unfortunately the Chief label experienced financial difficulties and folded in 1964. Mel London died on 16 May 1975 in Chicago, Illinois, age 43, from cancer. He leaves behind a legacy of 48 songwriting credits and produced around 80 singles by some 37 artists. Image: Public Domain.