American funk vocalist, and artist. Born: 1 May 1944 in Kansas City, Kansas, USA. Died: 22 December 2012 in Kansas City, Kansas, USA (aged 68). In 1960, when she was 16, she joined a Kansas gospel group, the Alma Whitney Singers, and ended up marrying Harry Whitney (2), the brother-in-law of the group's leader. Ever since, she has gone by her married name, Marva Whitney. Much like her contemporary, James Brown, many funk enthusiasts consider her as being one of the rawest and brassiest music divas, both vocally, and as a performer.
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