On Friday, May 12, Ms. Johnson’s 2nd grade class performed in Marvin’s Songfest, an annual event at the school. Marvin, a resident of Ladue Schools and a parent of Ladue Schools graduates, has visited Spoede for the past 18 years to teach students old classic songs.
Marvin teaches the kids oldies but goodies, according to Ms. Johnson. These include patriotic songs (Yankee Doodle, Star Spangled Banner,…), some show tunes songs (My Favorite Things, Do Re Mi, … ), and Disney songs (Whistle While You Work, Zippity Doo Dah, It’s a Small World,…). He also teaches them some real oldies (Sing a Song, Abba Dabba Honeymoon).
Her students practice once to twice a month with Marvin and then put on the songfest in May and invite the entire school, along with parents and friends.
About 20 years ago, Marvin began as Ms. Johnson’s OASIS tutor. Every time he came to pick up the student that he was tutoring, he would come into the room to sing songs to the rest of the students. The following year, he asked if he could just come in and sing with the kids. The rest is history.
Along with being a Ladue Schools community member, he also owned a pharmacy with his brother in Creve Coeur for years. He was known as the singing pharmacist. Marvin is 84 years old and just stopped working this year. He still performs, though, and is part of a group that puts shows every year to raise money for cancer research!
“Marvin is so wonderful and has given a lot of his time over the years to share his talents with us,” Ms. Johnson said. “He is such an interesting and giving man.”
