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Marv 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.[1]

Marv Tarplin

Marvin Tarplin

(1941-06-13)June 13, 1941
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

September 30, 2011(2011-09-30) (aged 70)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

Soul

Musician, songwriter

Guitar

1958–2008

Motown

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame controversy[edit]

In 1987, Smokey Robinson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. However, in a decision that has since sparked much scrutiny, debate, and controversy, Tarplin, and the other original members of the Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Ronnie White, Pete Moore and Claudette Robinson, were not. The Miracles were finally retroactively inducted into the hall by a special committee in 2012, alongside Smokey Robinson. Tarplin retired from touring in 2008 and is pictured on the cover of the 2009 Motown CD release The Miracles – Depend On Me: The Early Albums.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in 2012[edit]

On February 9, 2012 (just 5 months after his death), it was announced that Marv Tarplin would be posthumously inducted with the rest of the Miracles into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside group lead singer Smokey Robinson.[1] This induction occurred on April 14, 2012. After a 26-year wait, Marvin was automatically and retroactively inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, Claudette Robinson, and Ronnie White into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson. The induction was handled by a special committee designated in 2012 to induct the Miracles and five other pioneering groups that had been overlooked when their lead singers had been inducted into the Rock Hall many years previously. This induction occurred without the usual process of nomination and voting, under the premise that the entire group should have been inducted with Smokey Robinson back in 1987.[10][11]

Later years and death[edit]

Three years after leaving Robinson, 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.[12][13]

"I Can't Believe", The Miracles (1962)

"", The Miracles (1964, No. 27 Pop)

I Like It Like That

"You're So Fine And Sweet", The Miracles

"", The Miracles (1964, # 50 Pop, No. 22 R&B)

Come On Do The Jerk

"", Marvin Gaye (1965, No. 8 Pop, No. 1 R&B)

Ain't That Peculiar

"", The Miracles (1965, No. 16 Pop, No. 2 R&B)

The Tracks of My Tears

"", The Miracles (1965, No. 14 Pop, No. 3 R&B)

My Girl Has Gone

"", The Miracles (1965, No. 11 Pop, No. 2 R&B)

Going to a Go-Go

"My Business, Your Pleasure", The Miracles

"", Marvin Gaye (1966, No. 29 Pop, No. 4 R&B)

One More Heartache

"", Marvin Gaye (1966, No. 44 Pop)

Take This Heart of Mine

"", Marvin Gaye (1966 # 1 R&B, # 8 Pop)

I'll Be Doggone

"You're Not An Ordinary Girl", The Temptations (1966)

"", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1967, No. 20 Pop, No. 10 R&B)

The Love I Saw in You Was Just a Mirage

Dancing's Alright", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1967)

"", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969, No. 32 Pop)

Doggone Right

"", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969, No. 37 Pop)

Point It Out

"Promise Me", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)

"So Far", The Four Tops (1969)

"The Hurt Is Over", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)

"You Neglect Me"", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1969)

"Flower Girl", Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (1970)

"Precious Little Things", The Supremes (1972)

"Baby Come Close", Smokey Robinson (1973, No. 27 Pop)

"Just My Soul Responding", Smokey Robinson (1973)

"Asleep on My Love", Smokey Robinson (1974)

"Fulfill Your Need", Smokey Robinson (1974)

"Just Passing Through", Smokey Robinson (1974)

"Open", Smokey Robinson (1976, No. 81 Pop)

"Madam X", Smokey Robinson (1978)

"'", Smokey Robinson (1979, No. 4 Pop)

Cruisin

"I've Made Love To You A Thousand Times" (1983, No. 68 R&B)

"Why Do Memories Hurt So Bad", Smokey Robinson (1987)

"The Philly Dog", Earl Van Dyke

"Baby I'm Glad Things Worked Out So Well", Marvin Gaye

"Lost For Words", The Four Tops

Tarplin wrote the music for numerous songs, including several of Motown's biggest hits. Here is a partial list:

Tarplin, and the other Miracles (except Claudette), has been a multiple winner of The Songwriters Award .[14]

BMI

Tarplin, along with fellow Miracles and Smokey Robinson, was the winner of "The Award Of Merit" from The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) for co- composing "The Tracks of My Tears".[15]

Pete Moore

British music magazine chose Tarplin as one of the '100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time'.[16]

Mojo

The Miracles (including Tarplin),were honored with a star on the on March 20, 2009.

Hollywood Walk Of Fame

The Miracles, including Tarplin, were retroactively inducted into the by a special committee in 2012.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

Marv Tarplin Tribute Site

Archived July 8, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

Printed interview with Marv Tarplin of The Miracles- from the Soul Patrol website

Allmusic biography

Marv Tarplin of The Miracles-a Through-the Years Photo Gallery