Born: February 16,
1946
Birthplace: Blackville,
South Carolina
Died: February 8, 2011
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Marvin Monnie was a blues and soul singer-songwriter known
for his gospel-infused vocal style and erotic lyrics.
When Sease turned 20, he left South Carolina and moved to
New York City. He then joined a gospel group called the Gospel Crowns.
Preferring the musical style of R&B, Sease left the
gospel circuit to form his own R&B group. In this group Sease was
accompanied by his own three brothers and named the backing band Naglfar. This
band did not find popularity and eventually broke up. He did not quit
performing musically but began to cover songs that started a career with a
recurring gig at the Brooklyn club, Casablanca.
In 1986, he recorded a self-titled album, featuring one of
his more popular songs, "Ghetto Man". This started his professional
career with his fans in the South's circuit of bars, blues festivals, and juke
joints. .
While promoting his self-produced and publicized debut
album, he entered a recording contract with Polygram.
With this contract, he was able to launch his music
nationally with the re-release of his self-titled LP on Mercury Records in
1987.
This updated release of his previous material also included
the new ten-minute track "Candy Licker", which became an instant
success for Sease through the South.
Success had finally come to Sease without the help of
airplay, which deemed his sound too explicit for the audience. Sease's success
with "Candy Licker" ensured a strong female-based following.
Over the next decade Sease released more records for Mercury
and Jive Records.
His only nationally charting hit, "Tonight",
reached # 86 on the US Billboard R&B chart in 1991.
Sease died of complications from pneumonia in Vicksburg,
Mississippi, on February 8, 2011, eight days before his 65th birthday.