Marv Tarplin
June 13, 1941 – September 30, 2011
Marv Tarplin was a guitarist and songwriter who is perhaps best remembered as a founding member of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles. Tarplin was playing guitar for Detroit girl group, the Primettes, when they auditioned for Robinson, who was doing A&R at Motown at the time. Robinson was so taken by Tarplin’s playing that he offered him a gig in his own group. The year was 1958, and Tarplin was suddenly the lead guitarist and co-songwriter for the Miracles, who would eventually become one of Motown’s most popular acts. Meanwhile, the Primettes would soon make history themselves after morphing into the Supremes. Tarplin went on to play on and co-write numerous hits for the band. That list includes “My Girl Has Gone,” “Going To A Go-Go,” and most famously, “Tracks Of My Tears.” After both he and Robinson left the Miracles in 1973, Tarplin continued to write and perform with Robinson. He also co-wrote the Marvin Gaye hits, “Ain’t That Peculiar” and “One More Heartache,” among others. Tarplin remained active in the music business until his retirement in 2008. As reported in the American Spectator, Marv Tarplin was 70 when he passed away on September 30, 2011. Cause of death was not immediately released.
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