Marcie Blane is now one of those “one-hit wonders” through her #3 pop hit “Bobby’s Girl” in 1962. She achieved this hit when she was 18; another song of hers “What Does A Girl Do?” was her only other Billboard Hot 100 single. Blane also issued several other singles but didn’t make an impression on the charts.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Marcia Blank (stage name Marcie Blane) |
| Born | May 21, 1944, Brooklyn, New York |
| Early Musical Training | Sang folk songs; played piano, guitar, flute (school band) and violin (orchestra) Produced backyard play “The Fairy Forest” at age 11 |
| Record Label | Seville Records |
| Years Active | 1962–1965 |
| Breakthrough Hit | “Bobby’s Girl” (1962) – US #3 pop, #14 R&B; Cashbox #2; UK cover by Susan Maughan reached #3 |
| Other Hot 100 Single | “What Does a Girl Do?” (1962) – US #82 |
| Additional Singles | “Little Miss Fool,” “You Gave My Number to Billy,” “Why Can’t I Get a Guy,” “Ragtime Sound” |
| Compilation | Bobby’s Girl: The Complete Seville Recordings (2004) |
| Post-Music Career | Retired from show business in 1965; Graduated from Queens College; Music & arts educator in New York state |
| Legacy | Iconic one-hit wonder of early 1960s pop; “Bobby’s Girl” remains a classic on oldies radio and compilations |
You may be wondering – whatever happened to Marcie Blane? She has since long retired and became a professor/educator in her home state, New York.
Early Life
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Marcie Blane achieved fleeting fame during the early 1960s through her single “Bobby’s Girl.” She was born Marcia Blank in Brooklyn, New York on May 21, 1944, to musician father Ernest and sometime music teacher mother Muriel. She had an older sister and younger brother and sister.
Through her parents, it was no wonder that Marcie Blank had natural talent and passion in music. She would sing folk songs, accompanying herself on piano and guitar. She also played flute when she joined her high school band, and played violin in an orchestra as well.
Recording Career
Marcie Blank’s recording career came almost by accident. She recorded a demo of songs as a favor for her songwriter buddy, who penned those tunes. The teener didn’t think that it would lead to something bigger. She wasn’t aware that A&R man Merv Holtzman of Seville Records got these demos in his hands and listened to them.
For Holtzman, it wasn’t the songs that caught him, but the singer. So he offered Marcie a recording contract, which she accepted.
Compilation Albums
Bobby’s Girl: The Complete Seville Recordings (2004, President Records)
- A Time to Dream
- What Does a Girl Do?
- How Can I Tell Him?
- Little Miss Fool
- Ragtime Sound
- You Gave My Number to Billy
- Told You So
- Why Can’t I Get a Guy
- Who’s Going to Take My Daddy’s Place
- Bobby Did
- After the Laughter
- The Hurtin’ Kind
- She’ll Break the String
- Guessin’ Games (Previously Unreleased Demo)
- Thank You (Previously Unreleased Demo)
- Suddenly It’s Over (Previously Unreleased Demo)
- I’m Just a Cute Little Girl (Previously Unreleased Demo)
- A Time to Dream (Previously Unreleased Demo)
“Bobby’s Girl”
The first song that she recorded was “Bobby’s Girl,” which was written by Hoffman and Gary Klein. She was also given the stage name Marcie Blane. Although she became a recording artist for the time being, life went on as normally for Marcie, who still went to a summer camp to be a counsellor. No one in her class, not even her teachers, knew that she had recorded a song.
When “Bobby’s Girl” hit the record stores and graced the airwaves, the song struck a chord especially with the teenage populace. Because of this, “Bobby’s Girl” climbed to the national charts, finally peaking at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 (and #14 on the Billboard R&B chart) in 1962. It also reached #2 on the Cashbox music chart.
Additional Songs and Marcie Blane’s Departure from the Spotlight
The hit single was almost immediately followed by “What Does a Girl Do.” Unfortunately, the single tanked at #82 on the Hot 100. The song’s rather risqué lyrics kept it from escalating further on the charts.
Her other singles such as “Little Miss Fool,” “You Gave My Number to Billy” and “Why Can’t I Get a Guy” all failed to make a dent on the charts. Besides, her peers (or rivals) such as Little Peggy March and Lesley Gore began to take over the position as a top female singer. However, it was a good thing for Marcie Blane for she never really felt comfortable performing on stage.
Besides, there were important things for her to achieve than to please the ever-fickle music fans. In 1965 Marcie Blane withdrew from show business altogether and proceeded to finish her education.
She graduated from Queens College and started to pursue her career in education. In the 1990s Blane worked as a music and arts teacher and is married with two children.
In the United Kingdom, “Bobby’s Girl” was covered by Susan Maughan. Her version became even more successful, reaching #3 on the national chart in Christmas time, 1962.
After Fame
Marcie Blane’s music career waned after she became well-known in the early 1960s and she did not enjoy the same level of popularity as she had with her hit track “Bobby’s Girl.” Despite this, she continued to perform and record music throughout the 1970s, albeit she was never as well-known as she had been prior to her well-known song.
Conclusion
Marcie Blane, a gifted singer and songwriter, became well-known in the early 1960s because to her number-one single, “Bobby’s Girl.” Despite having a brief musical career, she is nevertheless regarded as a significant figure in the history of 1960s pop, and admirers still love her songs today.