Marion Mann - Early Life

Early Life

Marion was born in Atlanta, Georgia and was raised, along with five brothers, by his mother, C.C. Mann, who was a church organist (Ebenezer Baptist Church and Liberty Baptist Church in Atlanta; Southern Baptist Church in New York City; and Mt. Bethel Baptist Church in Washington, D.C.) http://openlibrary.org/a/OL461275A. She also was a piano teacher until her death in 1981 at the age of 92. The best known, though not necessarily most talented, of the musical Mann brothers were probably Levi and Howard. Levi played jazz bass (upright) with the Lucky Millander Orchestra in the 1930s and 1940s and later held down the house musician gig, playing the Hammond B3 organ at the famous 20 Grand Club in Detroit, Michigan during the early Motown years. Howard wrote and composed the gospel classic "Teach Us To Pray" and was organist and choir director at Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem. The other brothers in this accomplished African American family included Lawrence, William, and John Wesley who were all classically trained musicians and educators.

Although a music lover, Marion was the only son of C.C. (Mama) Mann who did not pursue a career as a musician. C.C. had moved the family from Atlanta to Harlem, New York in the 1930s, but Marion went South again to attend college at Tuskegee Institute. At Tuskegee, in 1937, he met fellow student Ruth Maureen Reagin from Selma, Alabama, and Marion and Ruth were married after his graduation (1940) and before Marion entered the U.S. Army. Marion and Ruth had two children. M. Nicholas Mann was born on the Tuskegee Army Airfield in 1944 while Marion was stationed there as an administrative officer and Nick went on to a career in organization development consulting http://www.rdiweb.net with a brief foray as writer and music producer (The Reddings). Judith Reagin Walk was born in Yokohama, Japan in 1949 during Marion's post World War II overseas tour of duty. As a university administrator (Eastman School of Music and Howard University), Judy is also a talented musician (pianist, teacher, and choir director).