As singer, Marvin was along the lines of Cliff Edwards and Gene Austin and while he did ballads like Edwards and Austin, most of Marvin's recordings are bright, upbeat tunes that are quintessential 1920's. He grew up in Oklahoma and that "Midwestern" dialect was quite evident when he sang. He played several string instruments and was a ukulele virtuoso and many uke fans are attracted to his recordings for that reason. (Actually one early ukulele manufacturer came out with a "Johnny Marvin" model that was quite successful and has now become collectible.) From about 1926 thru the early thirties Marvin became a very popular and highly prolific recording personality both as a solo artist and as a vocalist for orchestral recordings. Marvin was also in vaudeville and something of a radio pioneer having two shows in the early 1930's "Dr. Cheer" and the "Lonesome Singer of the Air" and was also featured in some short subject films. In the mid 1930's he joined his friend Gene Autry's organization and wrote songs for Autry films and popular Radio show. In 1944 he contracted Dengue fever while entertaining the troops during WW2. He never recovered and died the same year while still in his forties.