Lost 1969 R&B Soul Gem: Wannabe Sugar Daddy (Never Before Heard!)

Marvin Turner, the smooth-talking, velvety-voiced crooner with a heart full of soul and a wallet that echoes, is Philadelphia's newest "almost" legend. Born and raised in the City of Brotherly Love, Marvin grew up idolizing the glitz and glamour of Motown stars and the swagger of old-school R&B icons. But instead of mink coats and private jets, Marvin's early years were filled with corner store cheesesteaks, SEPTA rides, and the occasional hustle to make ends meet.
His latest song, "Wannabe Sugar Daddy," is Marvin’s hilarious yet painfully relatable ode to every man who’s ever dreamed big but fallen short-especially when it comes to impressing the ladies. “It’s the struggle of my life in three soulful verses,” Marvin explained in an interview from the basement of his Aunt Debbie’s rowhouse. “I’m talkin’ about trying to pop bottles when you can barely afford a case of store-brand soda. You feel me?”
The inspiration for the track hit Marvin after a particularly disastrous date at a fancy downtown Philly steakhouse. When the bill came, Marvin realized his credit card had already been maxed out buying an “on sale” pair of snakeskin boots earlier that week. “I tried to pull the old ‘I forgot my wallet’ trick, but she wasn’t buyin’ it,” Marvin confessed with a laugh. “She left, and I ended up washing dishes for two hours. That’s when I knew this song needed to be born.”
With "Wannabe Sugar Daddy," Marvin balances buttery vocals, classic 1960s R&B grooves, and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. Known for turning heartbreak into hilarity, Marvin doesn’t just sing about his struggles-he invites listeners to laugh and vibe along with him.
Despite his less-than-flush bank account, Marvin has all the charisma of a superstar. “You don’t need money to have soul,” he insists. “But if you’ve got a couple dollars, let’s be real, it helps.” Whether he’s singing about coupon codes, split checks, or his champagne dreams on a tap water budget, Marvin Turner proves that you don’t need a fat wallet to make timeless music-you just need heart, hustle, and a good sense of humor.
And for the record? Marvin’s still working on that sugar daddy status-one Spotify stream at a time.
Secondhand Soul, Philadelphia’s finest (and only) purveyor of 1960s-style soul music from musicians who were, well… let’s just say they were “underappreciated” in their time. We specialize in hits that never hit, grooves that never got their groove on, and talent that was, quite frankly, talent-adjacent.
Our fictitious record label proudly resurrects the forgotten songs of Philly’s almost-legends-artists who didn’t quite have the magic of Motown, the grit of Stax, or the budget for studio time. Whether it’s Lester “Loose Strings” McCoy and his one-man band debacle or The Overtones (who were consistently under-pitched), we’ve got the tunes that almost made the cut.
Every song is dripping with that vintage soul vibe you love-horns that blare, harmonies that try, and lyrics that make you wonder, “Did they really rhyme ‘love’ with ‘glove’ again?”
So dust off your dancing shoes, lower your expectations just a smidge, and dive into the grooves of Secondhand Soul-where the music is recycled, but the feelings are real(ish). It’s soul with a second chance!