Hank Marr born 30 January 1927

Hank was born Henry L. Marr  in Flytown, Columbus, Ohio. He began playing piano at an early age and would often jam with childhood friend and saxophonist Ronnie Kirk. Marr was originally self-taught and didn’t receive any formal music training until he attended Ohio State University after serving time in the military. Marr became interested in jazz organ-specifically the Hammond B3-after seeing “Wild” Bill Davis perform at Birdland in New York. But Marr didn’t form his own organ trio until after witnessing the music of the B3’s greatest practitioner, Jimmy Smith, at Atlantic City in the mid-1950s. 

Along with tenor saxophonist Rusty Bryant he co-led a group that toured for several years, beginning in 1958. He made a string of rock-solid records for the Cincinnati-based King label that showcased his soulful, grooving, no-BS style on the Hammond B-3. His approach owed more to elder statesmen like Wild Bill Davis and Count Basie than modernists like Larry Young and Big John Patton, but it kicked like a mule on up-tempo tunes and got low-down and gritty as a snake’s navel on the blues.  Marr had two minor hit singles, "The Greasy Spoon" (U.S. No. 101, 1964) and "Silver Spoon" (U.S. No. 134, 1965).  Influential DJ Alan Freed at one point adopted Marr’s “All Night Long” as a theme song. 

As with so many other organ innovators, the acid-jazz movement made new opportunities for Marr, and he re-emerged with a string of recent discs for the Double-Time label that compare very well with his vintage recordings. On the Hank Marr Quartets’ great out-of-print LP Live at the Club 502, recorded in ’64 at a Columbus nightspot, the leader shared the spotlight with guitarist Wilbert Longmire, whose slightly distorted sound and lithe phrasing are real taste treats for greasy-organ-juice lovers. 

Ramsey Lewis, Nancy Wilson & Marr

Marr’s recorded output of albums wasn’t voluminous. Clearly, the livelihood of musicians like Marr depended very strongly on gigs in Eastern and Mid-Western clubs that tended to the growing audience of organ jazz in the wake of pioneer Jimmy Smith’s popularity. 

Marr later led a group that featured James Blood Ulmer. Ulmer first recorded professionally with Marr in 1967–1968; they had previously toured in 1966–1967. Guitarists Freddie King (1961–1962) and Wilbert Longmire (1963–1964) also did recordings with Marr. In 1966 he recorded some sides for Detroit‘s Wingate label including  ‘Marr’s Groove’ and ‘White House Party.’ 

Marr with James Brown

In the late 1960s, Marr performed in a duo with guitarist Floyd Smith in Atlantic City, New Jersey. During the 1960s and 1970s, he performed in Las Vegas, on "The Johnny Carson Show", "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Merv Griffin Show" and worked as TV star George Kirby's musical director. 

Marr with Arthur Prysock

In the eighties, Marr concentrated on teaching and lecturing at Ohio State, eventually becoming an associate professor of jazz studies. Though he never enjoyed national recognition, Marr was a hometown hero. In 1990 the City of Columbus honoured him by naming August 12 “Marvellous Hank Marr Day” and later the city  gave him the Continuing Legacy Award as part of its Columbus Music Awards.  Having spent ten years as George Kirby's musical director before teaching in Columbus, Ohio, Marr's recording background and involvement with jazz organ faded to some extent from the public consciousness until there was a resurgence of interest in his music. 

He recorded three albums in the nineties on the Double Time label, among them Hank And Frank in 1996, with tenorist Frank Foster. He continued to perform at festivals, in clubs, with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, and throughout the IAJE Conference . In 1999, Marr along with Wilbert Longmire and Greg Rockingham, celebrated his 72^ndbirthday with a  gig at the Elbow Room in Chicago, which celebrated the keyboardist’s 72nd birthday.  He then gave a rare solo piano performance at the  Jazz Record Mart in Warbash. 

Along with Hank’s celebrity status as a member of the jazz elite, he was a dedicated and gifted educator. In recognition of over fifty years as a performer, teacher, arranger and conductor, the Jazz Arts Group established the Hank Marr High School Jazz Award as a tribute to this special individual. This award  recognizes outstanding high school musicians and their dedication jazz performance. 

He died Hank in Columbus’ Grant Hospital, March 16, 2005, after a brief bout with cardiac illness. 

(Edited from Wikipedia, Jazz Arts Group, Chicago Reader, IMDb, Flophouse Magazine, ProQuest, Arnett Howard’s blog, Jazz Times & Findagrave)

Here’s a video of "City Lights" from the live CD "Live @ The 501" by Organic Chemistry - Tom Carroll on Guitar, Hank Marr on B3, and Jim Rupp on Drums.  This recording was made in February 2001 at the 501 Jazz Bar in Columbus, Ohio, during the Ohio Music Educators Convention.