(October 16, 2016) We are sad to report to SoulTrackers that Larry “Bingo” Marcus, a founding member of 90s R&B hitmaking group The Rude Boys, and writer of their classic smash hit “Written All Over Your Face,” has died.
The Rude Boys first joined together in Cleveland, Ohio with members Marcus, Joe Little III, Edward Lee Banks, Dwight Thompson and Melvin Sephus, and were discovered by Gerald Levert. Signed by Atlantic Records, the group released the debut album, Rude Awakenings, which yielded a #1 R&B hit with its second single, “Written All Over Your Face,” featuring Gerald Levert singing lead.
(October 16, 2016) We are sad to report to SoulTrackers that Larry “Bingo” Marcus, a founding member of 90s R&B hitmaking group The Rude Boys, and writer of their classic smash hit “Written All Over Your Face,” has died.
The Rude Boys first joined together in Cleveland, Ohio with members Marcus, Joe Little III, Edward Lee Banks, Dwight Thompson and Melvin Sephus, and were discovered by Gerald Levert. Signed by Atlantic Records, the group released the debut album, Rude Awakenings, which yielded a #1 R&B hit with its second single, “Written All Over Your Face,” featuring Gerald Levert singing lead.
As if to prove that they were not a “one hit wonder,” the Boys followed with another #1 hit, the wonderful ballad “Are You Lonely For Me,” and continued their hot streak with a major international tour supporting Levert and The O’Jays. An important footnote is that, at this time, the group's keyboardist and musical director was future soul music star Frank McComb.
The Rude Boys issued a follow up album, 1992’s Rude House (which included the moderate hit “My Kinda Girl”), but it didn’t hit the heights of its predecessor album, and their stint with Atlantic Records was done. It led to a split of the group, though some of the members reunited five years later for the commercially unsuccessful album Rude As Ever.
Following Gerald Levert’s tragic death, the Rude Boys reunited to perform at the funeral.
Though we lost track a bit of Larry Marcus after the mid-90s, he continued to play an important role locally in the Cleveland are through his Larry “Bingo” Marcus Foundation, and by all accounts was a great friend and mentor to many artists in the regions. He also continued to record as a solo artist from time to time. While the spotlight wasn’t as bright on him internationally in recent times, Marcus will forever be remembered as playing a key role in one of the 90s’ most enjoyable R&B groups and penning a song that soul lovers continue to enjoy a quarter century later. Godspeed, Mr. Marcus.