Marvin Spruill-The Country Music Advocate

Community News, Entertainment — By Buddy Sampson on September 8, 2025 at 12:00 pm

Cover and Inside Photo: Marvin Spruill, The Country Music Advocate.

By Buddy Sampson

Marvin Spruill’s knowledge and work in Country Music is unsurpassed. The music manager, executive and former country singer has been associated with the popular genre ever since he was a young kid growing up in Williamston, North Carolina. “It was small country town,” said Marvin Spruill. “Everyone knew each other, you knew the mayor and the sheriff and country music was the premier music in our town. Sure, we had black clubs, and R&B, we listened to the Four Tops and other kinds of music, but country music was the premier music in our household because every Saturday, we would sit and listen to the Grand ‘Ole Opry.”

The country music executive and manager has an impressive resume, having been a Vice President for two companies and managed artists in country and R&B music. He was the road manager for a group “Nu Family,” and worked with country artist Vicki Vann as a record executive.

Country music has been a huge, established medium of American music, long before Beyonce and Lil Naz X helped to inject new interest in the mainstream genre. According to historians, country music was established

in late 1800’s to early 1900’s. “Beyonce opened up the conversation again,” said Marvin, “in terms of bringing a broader audience to country like Lil Naz X did. So, what that did was open the eyes of the people again that may have left country music to bring them back to country music.” He maintains that Black consumers have always purchased and listened to country music. “Black people have always listened to country music,” he said.

“You had Shaboozey (a country artist that combines genres) that came along, He became a phenomenon, just like Jelly Roll did. Kane Brown came along and made an impact, as well as Mickey Guyton. The state of country music? It’s international. The doors are beginning to open much, much, more now. It’s always been a secondary market for Blacks, but now there are more and more Black artists in country.”

Country music was popular in the Black community and artists such as Ray Charles and Charley Pride were instrumental in bringing the music to African-American consumers. “Ray Charles was very special, Charley Pride was very special,” he said when asked about the influence of Ray Charles and Charley Pride on country music and Black consumers. “When Charley Pride came along, Jim Crow was at its strongest. Charley Pride came along at a time when they said that a Black man couldn’t succeed in country music. Charley Pride was true. He beat all the odds. You see, country music is about being legitimate and truly about being who you are. A lot of the people coming into to country now are not really country artists. Charley lived the country lifestyle, like I did. Charley worked in the cotton fields. I worked in the tobacco fields.”

Marvin grew up in Williamston, and listened to country music, even as a child. “My favorite artists were Ronnie Milsap and Charley Pride,” said Marvin. “Charley was my hero. He was the only Black man I saw with a big ‘ol Afro singing on the Grand ‘Ol Opry. So that inspired me. I said if he could do it, I could do it.” Marvin, who was a young country singer, had label interest, but was led to become a music manager and record label executive.

Marvin Spruill (R) is pictured (L-R) with Bob, KP Fitz, Keira and Tom.

Marvin Spruill pointed out that much of the origins of country music had roots in the Black community. “Many of the elements of Country music originated in Africa,” said Spruill. “Some people say it originated in the Appalachian Mountains, but African-American contributions to country music cannot be denied. The history of Blacks in country has been extraordinary. We brought the banjo over.” Indeed, the banjo’s roots evolved from African lute gourd instruments and was brought to America by enslaved Africans. “When poor Whites and poor Blacks were in the fields the only thing they had was music, so it was a melting pot,” he said. “Black people taught some of the early stars of country how to play and sing country music and instruments, such as the banjo. Country music came out of the slave trade and Black people had a tremendous contribution in making and forming that genre of music.”

Having worked in the music industry for many years, taking a position as Talent Coordinator for the First, Second and Third Annual Black Country Music Specials, Marvin was able to assemble other professional planners and managers who all share a dedicated love for live concert tours, large scale meetings, fund-raisers, conferences, trade exhibits, seminars, and other specialties. Marvin Spruill has had a lifetime love for Country Music and enjoys developing and managing new talent. He was the road manager for a group called “Nu Family,” which enabled him to travel the world. He mentioned one experience with the ensemble in which they traveled to Kazakhstan. “There were very big locusts there,” he said. “And I had to deal with them. They refused to go onstage because there were so many locusts on the stage. I became the locust killer.”

A former member of the California Country Music Association and The Academy of Country Music, Marvin has worked with or managed several groups. Mr. Spruill has vast experience and education in the music industry, particularly in country music. He attended the Trebas Institute of the Arts, majoring in Music Business Management, and later attended the University of Phoenix for Marketing and Business.

Marvin Spruill (second from R) with Bob, KP Fitz, Tom and Earl.

In 1994, he became a member of the Country Music Association (CMA) and opened a Nashville-based Personal Artist Management Company. In 2001, he established his own Artist Management Company, Western Soul Entertainment. In o 2003 he became the Vice President of the Country Soul Division of Creative Artist Records, doing publicity and promotions. He co-managed groups and artists, including Vicki Vann, exposing her to an international market. In 2011, he was the Vice President, Country Music of TMG Street Pride, and charted country music artist KP Fitz, who charted at #13 on the Billboard charts.

Marvin Spruill is a Country Music Advocate whose life revolves around the genre. As a music executive, he has succeeded in the industry and is looking to make inroads as a successful manager, entrepreneur and producer. He has also started a music magazine, “Country Soul,” and will capitalize on new opportunities in county music. Marvin Spruill is The Country Music Advocate and look for huge things in the future from this talented executive.