Jive Baby

The Zoo Crew is spinning the infectious "Jive Baby" by Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush from the 1976 album Mahogany Rush IV, a track that’s got the Zoo Freaks grooving. This song, with its upbeat rhythm and playful lyrics like “I said, jive baby, you got everything I could dig,” captures the band’s signature blend of psychedelic rock and hard-hitting guitar riffs. In a 2023 interview with Hit Channel–

Another piece of trivia comes from the album’s production. Mahogany Rush IV featured Marino’s innovative use of the mellotron in three tracks, including “Jive Baby,” which added a lush, orchestral texture to the song. Marino explained in the same Hit Channel interview that the mellotron wasn’t planned but felt right as the record “began to tell you what to do.” This spontaneous approach defined much of the album, with Marino often writing songs the night before studio sessions, making “Jive Baby” a product of raw, in-the-moment creativity. Fans on the Official Frank Marino Facebook page often cite the song’s catchy energy as a highlight of live shows in the 1970s, with some recalling Marino’s electrifying guitar solos that brought the track to life on stage.

Frank Marino, born Francesco Antonio Marino on November 20, 1954, in Montreal, Canada, kicked off his musical journey in a haze of 1960s counterculture. Half Italian and half Arabic, Marino grew up in a working-class family and dropped out of school after the seventh grade, diving headfirst into the hippie scene. As he shared on his official website, he and his friends were “so busy getting stoned” that school took a backseat to listening to Jimi Hendrix, The Doors, and The Beatles while joining peace and anti-war movements. Marino started as a drummer at age five but switched to guitar around 13 or 14 after a life-altering LSD experience landed him in the hospital. While recovering, he picked up the guitar in the hospital’s relaxation room to keep his mind occupied, teaching himself to play by ear. This period also birthed the term “Mahogany Rush,” a phrase Marino used to describe the vivid sensations of his acid trip, which later became the name of his band, formed in 1969.

Marino’s early career was marked by his prodigious talent and comparisons to Jimi Hendrix, though he’s consistently debunked myths about being Hendrix’s reincarnation. As he clarified in a 2021 Psychedelic Baby Magazine interview, he was already playing guitar and leading Mahogany Rush before Hendrix’s death in 1970. By age 16, Marino recorded his debut album, Maxoom, and Mahogany Rush gained traction in the 1970s, touring major venues like California Jam II alongside Aerosmith and Heart. His psychedelic, jazz-infused rock style, described as “The Grateful Dead meets jazz,” built a loyal fanbase, many of whom connect on platforms like the Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Fan Group on Facebook.

Today, fans can stay updated through Marino’s official website, where he shares news about his music and custom guitar pedals like the “Dragonfly” and “Maxoom.” His Facebook page is active with posts about his legacy and fan interactions, while his Instagram offers glimpses into his creative process. On X, Marino occasionally engages with followers, sharing thoughts on music and life. For deeper dives, fans flock to sites like Citizen Freak for detailed discographies and bios or join discussions in the Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush Fan Group, where Zoo Freaks might find kindred spirits celebrating “Jive Baby” and Marino’s enduring influence.