Biography
Actor, director, rockabilly singer, trash film historian, wrestling manager, and promoter — Johnny Legend is a true modern-day Renaissance man. His diverse and impressive career, spanning over four decades, shows no signs of slowing down. Born Martin Margulies on October 3, 1949, in San Fernando, California, he is the son of Bernard Margulies, a doctor, and Betty, a nurse. Johnny is the older brother of Lynne Margulies. Initially a country music enthusiast, he practiced Hank Williams songs in his bedroom and watched Ernest Tubb on TV. He attended Sylmar High School in San Fernando. In 1966, Legend formed the folk-rock group the Seeds of Time, beginning to craft his unique wild rock'n'roll persona. By 1970, he was performing 50s rock'n'roll with the band Blue Midnight. Throughout the 1970s, he recorded numerous tracks for Ronny Weiser's Rollin' Rock Records and led the Rollin' Rock Rebels. In 1977, he co-wrote and produced the novelty hit "Pencil Neck Geek" for wrestler Fred Blassie, the same year his raunchy porno comedy "Teenage Cruisers" premiered. In 1983, Johnny co-wrote and co-directed the quirky comedy "My Breakfast With Blassie" alongside Blassie and avant-garde comic Andy Kaufman. During the late 80s, he developed the Sleazemania and Teenage Theater series for Rhino Home Video, playing a key role in reviving and reissuing many obscure cartoons, low-budget horror films, and cult exploitation movies that might otherwise have been lost. His acting credits include "The Cat Ate My Parakeet," "Prison Ship," "Bride of Re-Animator," "Bug Buster," the Andy Kaufman biopic "Man on the Moon," and "2001 Maniacs." In 1998, he released the album "Bitchin'." Additionally, Legend has promoted wrestling events and managed wrestlers on the West Coast. Today, he runs the DVD label Legendhouse and continues to tour and perform music globally.
