He was an R&B bandleader, singer-songwriter and female impersonator born Oscar James Gibson in Youngstown, Ohio.
He used to be fascinated by the female impersonators in his local theatres and began to perform a comedy and singing act where he was in drag. After having moved to new Orleans for it’s relaxed atmosphere he formed The Powder Box Revue that was a female impersonator troupe that appeared in a regular booking at the Dewdrop Inn.
When he dropped his alternative persona he would emcee at The Tijuana Club and was signed up to Aladdin Records, Dot and Ace Records in that order. He had his regional first hit in 1956 with “Chickee Wah-Wah” and in 1957 he joined Huey “Piano” Smith to form the Clowns where he would occasionally sing lead vocals. He made several recordings with them with one of his first being “Don’t You Just Know It” was released in 1958.
He would see his own personal success though with his solo No. 1 R&B chart topper “There Is Something On Your Mind”. After having been recommended to Stax by Otis Redding he cut the song “Get Down With It” which would later become a hit for the British glam-rock band Slade.
He relocated to Pensacola, Florida, during the 1970s where he was a bandleader and had returned to female impersonation, but in 1977 he returned to New Orleans to become an emcee again. That same year he was still recording and released the single “Disco Rabbit” which was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.
A regular participant at the New Orleans Jazz Festival and a presenter of local gong shows, he slowed his activities down when he was struck down by cancer. He would still remain involved in the industry though and would scout and promote hip-hop acts and be involved in the formation of Cash Money Records.
He made his last professional appearance at the 1999 Essence Music Festival but after suffering from a long illness he died in December of that year aged 69.
Bobby Marchan recordings
Disco Rabbit (Bobby Marchan)
I Wanna Bump With the Big Fat Woman (Bobby Marchan/Bernie Lee McGinty)
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