Thursday, June 13, 2024: 12pm ET: Feature Artist: Marvin Tarplin

Marvin Tarplin (June 13, 1941 – September 30, 2011) was an American musician, best known as the guitarist for the Miracles from the 1950s through the early 1970s. He was one of the group’s original members and co-wrote several of their biggest hits, including the 1965 Grammy Hall Of Fame-inducted “The Tracks of My Tears”. He is also a winner of the BMI Songwriter’s Award, and the ASCAP Award Of Merit, and was a 2012 posthumous inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with the Miracles.

Whilst Tarplin remained with the Miracles for as long as Robinson was their lead singer, he is only present on the cover of three classic Miracles albums: Cookin’ with the Miracles (1962), I’ll Try Something New (1962), and The Fabulous Miracles (1963). He is mentioned, though not pictured, on the back cover of the group’s very first album, Hi… We’re the Miracles (1961), and listed as an original group member. As a songwriter, Tarplin helped co-compose many of the Miracles’ hit singles, amongst them the million-selling Grammy Hall of Fame winner “The Tracks of My Tears” for which he received the ASCAP Award of Merit (1965), “My Girl Has Gone” (1965), “I Like It Like That”, (1964), “Going to a Go-Go” (1965), “The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage” (1967), and “Point It Out” (1968).

Many of his penned tunes are featured in this program.

Tarplin died in his Las Vegas home of undetermined causes on September 30, 2011. He was 70. Tarplin had three daughters, named Talese, Lisa and Eboney.

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