carroll hubbard
» Favorite Album: Mahogany Rush IV
In 75, in the 8th grade, this guy knew i was a Hendrix fan so he said, Hey I got something for you. So the next day he brought in Maxoom and Strange Universe and let me borrow them. I took them home and listened and became an instant fan. To me it was the same thing like Clapton, Leslie West, Santana, just a guitar-first style that I was used to with Hendrix. I was absolutely blown away. From that point on it was Frank all the way. And when I turned others on it was the same reaction. I vividly remember when Mahogany Rush IV came out the next year, my brother calling me from work to tell me, I've seen Frank 8 or 9 times, all great over the years. I'm sorry to say Frank hasn't received the credit due him musically. It's sad. I thought he did everything well and covered all the bases, songs like It's Begun To Rain, Jive Baby. When I play these songs for people it makes me look like a genius for just having this type of music. I thought his best album was Juggernaut. My personal fav is IV. I'm from Washington D.C. and am now a born-again Christian African-American, but I still know the name Frank Marino. Sometimes, when old friends see me, they just stop and say Mahogany Rush, just between me and you, I still have some Frank, he's still my favorite. I know that many of my black brothers and sisters were impressed and entertained. Guys and gals that dug Funkadelic and R&B from the 60's, 70's, and 80's liked it when I played Sister Change or Dragonfly, It's Begun To Rain. My personal fav was The Answer, a song that on the live shows devastated the crowds from the first moment on, when the live album came out. I was so proud and Mahogany Rush received more air play and exposure all around, and everybody else's fav guitarist just got blown away whenever I played the live album, or any Marino album for that matter. I could write this review all day. Much love to Jim Ayoub, Paul Harwood and Timm Biery, who attended my high school in Maryland Northwestern High. Frank, I understood what you were doing and why you were doing it from the first moment. I'd just like to say I have always loved you and the Mahogany Rush family dearly, and you're still an inspiration for me, all these years. Feel free to hit my mail box. It would be a thrill for my life time. Thanks for giving me The Answer. carrollhubbardrocketmail@yahoo.com