The Marcels were an American wild group recognized for grooving to contemporary tunes.
Johnson started the band in Pittsburgh in 1959 with Cornelius Harp, lead singer, Gene Bricker, Ron Mundy, and Richard Knauss to Colpix Records.
Priscilla Johnson, Fred Johnson’s younger sister, named the group after a popular haircut at the time, the marcel wave.
61 years ago, the group released the song “Blue Moon” which overtook Elvis’s Surrender on the top spot of the Billboard charts.
Since its release, the song has received several accolades including being featured in the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock And Roll.
Fred Johnson obituary: How did The Marcels founding member die?
Johnson died on March 31, surrounded by family and friends, according to his publicist after a short ailment. He was 80 years before his demise.
Johnson is survived by his sister, his seven children, several grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Fred’s burial has been kept from the media space.
