Marvin Jackson (January 23, 1936 - March 21, 2022) was an American rockabilly singer and songwriter, best known for his song Dippin' Snuff from the Soundtrack of the video game Grand Theft Auto V.
Lawrence “Marvin” Jackson grew up in Cadet, Missouri. He has been playing the guitar since he was 14, initially performing as lead guitarist for other singers at school performances and local events. He initially worked full-time at the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, but later spent most of his time as a miner for the St. Joe Minerals Corporation.
Jackson recorded his first three records in 1957, pressed them at Starday Records in Madison, Tennessee and King Records in Cincinnati, Ohio and distributed them through his own label, Crestwood Records. In the summer of 1958, Jackson was drafted into the US Army. He completed his advanced training at Fort Hood, Texas, before eventually being posted to Germany. Jackson was retired from active duty in November 1960 and returned to his home state employment with McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. For the time of the Berlin crisis in 1961, however, he was called back into service.
Arguably he wrote his best known song “Dippin' Snuff” in 1971 while he was working at the Viburnum lead mine. He was inspired to write this song because it was a new trend to chew his snuff instead of snuffing it. In 1973 he recorded the song in Farmington, Missouri at Ray Elder's studio. However, his song didn't appeal to the record companies. His song Gee Whiz Miss Liz caught the interest of the Dutch rockabilly record label White Label, after which the company released the album Ozark Rockabilly in 1985.
White Label Records released an LP of Jackson material in 1985, and Collector Records gathered that album, all the independent singles, and several previously unreleased tracks into one package, When You Rock and Roll, which came out in 2004. It was also issued as a digital download “He’s Just a Cool Man” by AMB in 2021. In December 2012, Rockstar Games contacted Jackson after they found his song Dippin' Snuff on YouTube and used it on the soundtrack to the video game Grand Theft Auto V.
Jackson work up to age 75 laying asphalt then spent his retirement recording his own CDs and singing karaoke. He also played his guitar and sang at the Sayers Senior Center and the local nursing homes for the residents. He loved playing music at his church. In addition to his passion for music was his love for his cats and animals in general. He enjoyed the beauty of nature. Marvin never met a stranger. Once you met him, you had a friend.
Marvin passed away peacefully at his home in Potosi, Missouri, with his family beside him on Monday, March 21, 2022. He had reached the age of 86 years, 1 month, and 25 days.
(Edited from Wikipedia & DeClue Funeral Home obit.)