Education
Born John Marshall Greer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, he was a friend of Henry Glover from childhood, and both attended college at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical together.
Born John Marshall Greer in Hot Springs, Arkansas, United States, he was a friend of Henry Glover from childhood, and both attended college at Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical together.
Glover was playing in Lucky Millinder"s band when Bulletin Moose Jackson left the group in 1948. Glover suggested that Greer be chosen as Jackson"s replacement. Greer played with Bob Shad and appeared on Millinder"s Radio Corporation of America recordings until 1950, when Millinder signed to King Records.
Greer stayed with Radio Corporation of America and played with Wynonie Harris and Jackson among others
He sang lead vocals on his biggest hit, recorded in October, 1951 "Got You On My Mind". In 1953 he switched to Groove Records, but did not make much impact on the American record charts there.
In Augustus of 1954, he released "We Wanna See Santa Claus Do The Mambo", a Christmas hit to this day. In 1956, he finally signed with King, but only recorded for them for about a year.
Greer also worked with Hal Singer and Bill Doggett.
By 1957, Greer had developed extended troubles with alcoholism, and he moved back to his home town of Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he died in 1972 at age 48.