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Marva Whitney - Funk Soul Sister - R.I.P

Marva Whitney - Funk Soul Sister - R.I.P magazine cover

Sad to say another great has passed away.

 

 

 

R.I.P.

 

Added by site:

source: http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/news/international/34507/RIP-Marva-Whitney-Soul-Sister-1

 

 

Whitney was a featured vocalist with the James Brown Revue in the late ‘60s, performing with Brown on tour in America, Europe, North Africa and in Vietnam during the war. She recorded several songs for Brown’s King Records including her biggest hit, a rewrite of the Isley Brothers track ‘It’s My Thing (You Can’t Tell Me Who to Sock It To)’. She’s also known for her song ‘Unwind Yourself’, which has been sampled numerous times, most notably by DJ Mark the 45 King on his 1987 track ‘The 900 Number’ and on DJ Kool’s 1996 hit ‘Let Me Clear My Throat’. In 2006, Whitney collaborated with DJ Pari and the James Brown inspired Japanese funk orchestra Osaka Monaurail to produce a new album, I Am What I Am. The success of this revival saw Whitney return to the touring circuit to play shows in Japan, Europe and Australia.

Whitney visited Australia in 2009 appearing at the Falls festival and performing as part of the festival’s opening day Soul and Funk Revue. FL’s review of the show reported that with Adelaide’s Transatlantics acting as her backing band, Whitney took little time to prove why, in her heyday, she gained the title “Marvellous Marva” but a few songs into her set the then 65-year-old singer collapsed with many in the crowd believing that she had “pulled a James Brown.” However it soon became clear that she had suffered a stroke when she was carried from the stage leaving Transatlantics vocalist Tara Lynch to complete the set. Whitney was taken to Geelong Hospital and cancelled the remaining dates on her tour, however she did recover enough to perform several shows the following year.




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Yes, yet another sad loss ..... RIP Marva ............

I bought a UK Polydor LP as a new release back in 1968 ......

.. it's titled 'Soul Seller' and just features James Brown related King stuff.

Marva has two tracks that were included on the album & I've loved her stuff ever since.

Lots of the tracks included on the album are more deep soul than funk styled cuts...

... this one from Marva falls into that bag .. "If You Love Me" ....

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Sad to hear along with Jimmy two great artists have gone so close to Christmas it must be very sad for their familys . Marva inspired me to listen to funk , a lady with such poke and energy in the material she released i put forward Unwind yourself as my pick of Marva's talent to get you moving

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Marva has been working on her autobiography for about 2 years now, in conjunction with a UK book publisher (Bankhouse Books).

They were just incorporating an update on her recent work & adding the last few photos, the book would then have been ready to launch.

Hope it still comes out.

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Another sad loss - and a well, well underrated talent

R.I.P Marva.

Here's the thumping Detroit-related flip-side to the incredible track above.

Richard

one of my fav never ever listened to the other side your love was good to me till ow even though i have this classic sund for over 30 years haha thank you marva for the joy you brought to people and will continue to bring through your music

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Very very sad news, i remember in the early Bretby days when ball of fire was so so popular, people bought the connie Austin version just to have the sound

RIP Marva

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Very Sad loss indeed :(

My favourite and IMHO the Queen of funky soul !

Always loved her version of "Ball of fire "

This is also one of my favourites from her. However, it has one minor flaw. It may not be so obvious in this clip, but it is when I play my record. The intro horns are much louder than the rest of the song. Anyways, that does not keep me from playing :wink:

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Also had the pleasure of seeing the great lady perform in Leeds a few years ago an exellent night had by all the place was rammed.....

R.I.P Marva......

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