Marc Does Rap?

Well, yes! In 2002, Marc's song "Forever is a Long Long Time" was sampled by rapper Royce Da 5'9" (frequent Eminem collaborator) for the latter's song "Boom" from the album "Rock City (version 2.0)" which also appeared in the soundtrack of the 2001 TV movie MTV's Hip Hopera: Carmen. When his daughters told Marc about this a few years ago, he was pretty chuffed!

You can have a listen on Youtube - it's really only the instrumental opening of Marc's song that's used. A fan also posted on Youtube the complete original song "Forever..." Love this comment posted: "Finding that sample is insane" - it really is since Marc's album was only released in vinyl - how/where did they ever find it!

The blog "Cafe Surreal" posted a story about this "sampling" a few years ago. Totally love this excerpt: "peep the ill ass cover with Marc straight ice-grillin' the camera while coppin' a squat next to Dumbo's mama." LOL!!

If you're so inclined, you can buy "Rock City" on Amazon.

Amazons & Supermen!

In 1974, Marc starred as a superhero in the Italian film "Superuomini Superdonne Superbotte" (aka "Super Stooges vs Wonder Women" and "Amazons & Supermen"). Here's the editorial review from Amazon.com:

"After the spectacular success of Enter the Dragon in 1973 many Western producers realized the potential of incorporating chinese kung fu with their adventure films. Producer Stenio Fiorentini of Italy enlisted the cooperation of Hong Kong's largest film studio the Shaw Bros. and secured the services of their contract actor Yueh Hua to join a trio of actors that formed the Supermen.

Set back in an ancient time when Greek culture ruled the world,the story deals with the conflict between a race of warrior women, the villagers whom they hold in bondage the three men who dedicate themselves to setting them free. A Caucasian named Aro (Nick Jordon), Tago, a giant son of Africa (Marc Hannibal), and the Oriental, Chang (Yue Hua), take on a whole army of Amazons. Using their amazing agility, knowledge of martial arts, and their ability to invent strange machines of war, the heroes prove themsleves to be a match for the warrior women.

Filmed entirely in Itay, Amazons and Supermen enjoyed great box office the world over."

You can watch a few trailers on Youtube - and be sure to scroll down and read the comments - it definitely became a cult hit!

This film was also mentioned in UK blog "The Wild Eye."

A "rarescope" DVD (yes, NTSC) version of this cult classic is actually available on Amazon!

Marc's First Album on Philips

In 1969, Marc released his first album, self-titled, on the Philips record label. It was produced by Jimmy Bowen who produced an album for Frank Sinatra with the Grammy-winning chart hit "Strangers in the Night". Bowen also produced chart hits for Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Nancy Sinatra. He later produced records for Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Garth Brooks.

Song list:
1. And the Grass Won’t Pay No Mind
2. Until It’s Time for You to Go
3. When the Wind Blows in Chicago
4. Four Winds and the Seven Seas
5. When I Wake Up in the Morning
6. If She Should Come to You
7. Forever is a Long Long Time
8. Their Hearts Were Full of Spring
9. Why Can’t I Walk Away

You can still find copies of this vinyl LP on eBay, just follow this link.

Marc's First TV Appearance

In St. Louis one evening last week, a tall, commanding-looking Negro in a dark suit and vest walked into the main rotunda of the city's Old Courthouse. For 30 minutes, he stood there and told TV viewers the story of the slave Sam Blow who picked up the nickname Great Scott-pronounced Dred Scott in Sam Blow's Gullah accent—whose suit was tried twice in that courthouse, in 1847 and in 1850.

It was a kind of lecture, really, with choral interludes by costumed singers, discussing the illiterate man whose petition for freedom was finally turned down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The lecturer was Marc Hannibal, formerly a professional basketball player with the razzle-dazzle Harlem Globetrotters. He had never before been on television, and that was the whole idea.

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