He started his music career, in 1971, with The Independents, who were an American R&B vocal group.
His lone solo album, Heavy Load, was released on January 1, 1985, by Nashboro Records, and it placed at No.
[1][2][3][4][5] Yancy was one of twelve siblings: he was one of eight brothers, Robert Jr., Kevin, Derrick, Sherwin, Stevie, Darrel, Melvin and Terry, along with four sisters that were in his family, Geraldine, Faye, Judith and Linda.
[1][3] They had a son together, Robert Adam "Robbie" Yancy, who was born on October 14, 1977,[8] but this marriage ended in divorce in 1980.
Also from a previous relationship, he had a son named Marvin Jerome Yancy Jr. Marvin Sr. suffered a minor stroke a month before his death from a heart attack on March 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois.