Marva Whitne James Brown Revue Singer Dies

Marva Whitney, who sang in the James Brown Revue and was known as Brown's Soul Sister No. 1, has died, The New York Times reports. She was 68. Whitney died on Dec. 22 of complications from pneumonia in her hometown of Kansas City, Kan., her manager told the newspaper. Remember other celebrities we've lost After singing with the Manning Gospel Singers, the Alma Whitney Singers and Tommy & the Derby's, she joined the James Brown Revue in 1967. Whitney had her own segment during concerts and sang duets with Brown. She was with the group for many memorable performances, including in Vietnam for American soldiers and in Boston the night following Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. Whitney also went solo on Brown's King Records, recording hits such as "Unwind Yourself" and "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It to)", both of which were later sampled by the hip-hop community.