Marva Josie...has earned acclaim as a "Gifted" vocalist from the best of Jazz to those of Operatic and Classical renown. Her soaring 5 1/2 octave range is an example of her ability to take a listener in any direction...much due to her training from the age of eight in Opera and the Classics. She gave her first concert at age nine while a student of music and dance at Clairton, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Pittsburgh, where many greats in music received their acclaim...such as: George Benson, Lena Horne, Earl "Fatha" Hines, Erroll Garner, Billy Eckstine, Mary Lou Williams, Shirley Jones, etc. She is proud to join the list.
Favorite Pittsburgh musicians/performers
Dr. Nelson Harrison, Howie Alexander, Frank Wible,
Spider Rondinelli,
Favorite Jazz Radio or media station
WDUQ, WQED,
Favorite Pittsburgh Jazz Venue
Little E's
About Me:
Marva Josie...Considered by Music Critics and her fans throughout the world as "The Singer" with the unique gift of being able to use her voice as a truce, a pure instrument... an "Interpreter of Songs."
Marva Josie...has a style that can take you to all heights, through many times and places with her believable choices of songs, from the best of standards to Pop/Jazz sounds of the past, present, and, definetly the future...She can move an audience with the sounds of Big bands, or acoustically with just the accompaniment of guitar, rhythm, or just a Baby Grand Piano...She is The Queen of Vocal Control, as only the trained and experienced can accomplish.
She has also performed as an "invited" guest soloist at the White House for Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, and for such notables as the Shah of Iran, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, President of France Giscard D'Estaing. She has also appeared as a guest singer on the Johnny Carson Tonight Show, Good Morning America, and the Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas, and Joe Franklin syndicated TV shows. Foreign television appearances include Italy, Germany, Australia, and Brazil, among others, as both a soloist and with the Earl Hines Orchestra.
Marva Josie...has appeared in concert with such guests as Dizzy Gillespie, Dave Brubeck, Benny Carter, Gerald Wiggins, Budd Johnson, Heywood Henry, Illinois Jacquet, Paul Desmond, Herbie Hancock, George Devivier, etc.
Marva Josie...has the unique ability to bring a song to its lyrical and musical best...She is also trained as an actress, enabling her to become an innovative "interpreter" of lyrics. She performed in many "off-Broadway" plays while studying Voice Harmony, and Theory, during her stay in New York City, and put her administrative and creative abilities to use behind the mike and behind the scenes in theater, video, and record production.
She also became involved in the production side of theater and recordings. Her many albums as soloist and featured vocalist with Earl Hines are treasured "gems" by record collectors all over the world.
Her current album is being produced by manager/producer Lee Magid, who has guided the careers of such notables in music as Della Reese, Lou Rawls, Gloria Lynne, Earl Grant, Al Hibbler, Marlena Shaw, O.C. Smith, etc., and now...a singer to be reckoned with.
Marva Josie is now "on a roll"...a singer that cannot be categorized...a singer that can sing anything...in any groove...be it Classical, Jazz Sweet, Soulful, Bluesy, Operatic, or Popular...a style one never forgets because of its sincerity, lyrical, sensitivity, melodic tonality, and feelingd that lead up to the vocal power of Marva Josie. Her voice is the individual and original instrument composers yearn for. She's a singer in a class of her own.
Marva Josie has a universal approach that is embraced all over the world. She;s adaptable and in control any place there's the sound of music...She is a Chameleon of Sound with a voice that will captivate listeners of all cultures and all ages for all time.
Marva Josie is a contemporary voice that will forever be recognised...heard beyond the city sounds of Pittsburgh, or the street and horn sounds of New York City...to the great Concert Halls of Carnegie, Lincoln, Kennedy, and London's Royal Albert, to the far off Symphony Halls of the world...The singer of notes...named...Marva Josie.
Marva Josie has recorded for the following record companies:
* Correctone
* United Artist
* Thimble
* First Church of Deliverance Music
* Voolivre
* Julmar
* Catalyst
* M.P.S. Jazz Series
* Improve
* Quick Silver Records
* Polydor
Lovely indeed Marva Josie...love your range and stylings....sweet for my ears indeed....and heart and soul too...well done....more please...all my best to you....always b
Hi Marva,
Great to meet you last night at the Hazlitt, and great to hear you sing.
Hoping to do some music together one of these days.
Very best wishes.
Roy
Hi Marva,
Thanks for your lovely message and thanks especially for a great musical afternoon. What a treat to jam with you! Tom and Suzanne join me in looking forward to more!
With very best wishes,
Roy
I read your recent blog that you responded to Nelson's blog, and I totally agree with what you had to say.
It's amazing that so many talented young artists just don't appreciate the fact that they can actually be professional musicians.
I meet so many hip musicians that play for free at jam sets and I offer them gigs that pay $50 a piece and they won't do it.
I am always praising God and telling musicians and thanking musicians for identifying me as "A Jazz Musican" and "Artistic Director of Jazz workshop, Inc."
I mean, I'm just always completely stunned that I'm actually a full-time music educator/music performer here in the region of Pittsburgh, PA.
My God, the talent in this town of the Pittsburgh, PA region is stunning.
For example, last night I went to Gullifty's and heard Gene Laus' group and it was fantastic.
The rhythm section was fantastic and I have never met or seen these guys and I've been back in Pittsburgh since the summer of '93.
I mean, wow, we are so loaded with talent in this Pittsburgh, PA region.
Also, you did a fantastic job at The New Hazlett Theater when Doc Nelson did that Sun. Night Jam Set.
Also, don't get discouraged if you get bad vibes from people about your blog.
Hey how have you been??? I have heard many things in the past few weeks and one of was that you were going to open a restraunt in McKeesport is this true??? would love to learn more about this and if I could help out where ever I can or where my experience will allow me too... ;) you have my number its the same as before...
Dr. Nelson Harrison
thank you for you wonderful presence on this network and for your participation in our furst jazz forum at the New Hazlett Theatre last week.
Nov 29, 2008
Bruce C

Lovely indeed Marva Josie...love your range and stylings....sweet for my ears indeed....and heart and soul too...well done....more please...all my best to you....always bJan 8, 2009
Kennard Roosevelt Williams
Your performance sunday evening was very special...thanks again!
Jan 12, 2009
Roy Sonne
Great to meet you last night at the Hazlitt, and great to hear you sing.
Hoping to do some music together one of these days.
Very best wishes.
Roy
Jan 12, 2009
Luther DeJarunett
Jan 16, 2009
Luther DeJarunett
Jan 19, 2009
Bill Hillgrove
Jan 27, 2009
Roy Sonne
Thanks for your lovely message and thanks especially for a great musical afternoon. What a treat to jam with you! Tom and Suzanne join me in looking forward to more!
With very best wishes,
Roy
Feb 17, 2009
Kevin Hurst, Sr.
Feb 17, 2009
Ed Skirtich
I read your recent blog that you responded to Nelson's blog, and I totally agree with what you had to say.
It's amazing that so many talented young artists just don't appreciate the fact that they can actually be professional musicians.
I meet so many hip musicians that play for free at jam sets and I offer them gigs that pay $50 a piece and they won't do it.
I am always praising God and telling musicians and thanking musicians for identifying me as "A Jazz Musican" and "Artistic Director of Jazz workshop, Inc."
I mean, I'm just always completely stunned that I'm actually a full-time music educator/music performer here in the region of Pittsburgh, PA.
My God, the talent in this town of the Pittsburgh, PA region is stunning.
For example, last night I went to Gullifty's and heard Gene Laus' group and it was fantastic.
The rhythm section was fantastic and I have never met or seen these guys and I've been back in Pittsburgh since the summer of '93.
I mean, wow, we are so loaded with talent in this Pittsburgh, PA region.
Also, you did a fantastic job at The New Hazlett Theater when Doc Nelson did that Sun. Night Jam Set.
Also, don't get discouraged if you get bad vibes from people about your blog.
Anyways, continue to do what you do.
Keep Swinging,
Ed Skirtich
Artistic Director/Jazz Workshop,inc.
ejskirtich@comcast.net
(412) 422-4149 (H)
(412) 841-8046 (C)
Feb 22, 2009
Damon Wilson
Aug 31, 2009
Doug Jackson
To a real Classes Lady. Which we need more of.
Sir D.J.deHorn
First Trumpet of Funk.
Oct 5, 2009
Schrubbel
Oct 17, 2009
Luther DeJarunett
Dec 2, 2009
Bill Lowman
Dec 3, 2009
Schrubbel
Dec 15, 2009
Buster Maxwell
Dec 28, 2009
Alexander Nichols
Apr 8, 2010
Ricco J.L.Martello
Sep 5, 2010
Ricco J.L.Martello
Sep 8, 2010
Mario Alfano
Nov 3, 2010