Marva Whitney
Encyclopedia
Marva Whitney is an African American
funk
singer. She is considered by many funk enthusiasts to be one of the "rawest" and "brassiest" music divas.http://www.mp3.com/marva-whitney/artists/20718/biography.html
Whitney's performing career started as early as three years old while touring with her family's gospel
group, the Manning Gospel Singers. Singing with James Brown
in the late 1960s, she was able to make a name for herself with powerful songs like "I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before Its Too Late)" and "If You Don't Work (You Can't Eat)." Her recording of "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To)" reached the R&B Top 20
. Her song "Unwind Yourself" has been sampled
numerous times, most recognisably by DJ Mark the 45 King on his 1987 track "The 900 Number", which was then sampled by DJ Chad Jackson
on his 1990 hit single "Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)
" (UK #3 in July 1990), and by DJ Kool
on his 1996 hit "Let Me Clear My Throat
" (UK #6 in March 1997).
In 2006, Marva Whitney collaborated with German born DJ/collector/manager DJ Pari
and Japanese funk orchestra Osaka Monaurail
to produce a new single, "I Am What I Am". Osaka Monaurail style themselves on the James Brown sound and the single was produced in the fashion of an authentic release of the recordings she produced with Brown in 1969. Two successful tours of Japan and a full length album release followed, also entitled "I Am What I Am". In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the tour was also brought to Europe.
In December 2009, Marva Whitney collapsed on stage in front of thousands of fans in Lorne, Australia, while performing with The Transatlantics
at Falls Festival. She was immediately rushed to Geelong Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a stroke. The remaining dates of her tour had to be canceled, but Whitney made an amazing recovery and is expected to perform again in 2010.
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
singer. She is considered by many funk enthusiasts to be one of the "rawest" and "brassiest" music divas.http://www.mp3.com/marva-whitney/artists/20718/biography.html
Whitney's performing career started as early as three years old while touring with her family's gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
group, the Manning Gospel Singers. Singing with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
in the late 1960s, she was able to make a name for herself with powerful songs like "I'm Tired, I'm Tired, I'm Tired (Things Better Change Before Its Too Late)" and "If You Don't Work (You Can't Eat)." Her recording of "It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who to Sock It To)" reached the R&B Top 20
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
. Her song "Unwind Yourself" has been sampled
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
numerous times, most recognisably by DJ Mark the 45 King on his 1987 track "The 900 Number", which was then sampled by DJ Chad Jackson
Chad Jackson (DJ)
Mark Chadwick, better known by his stage name, Chad Jackson, is an English DJ, remixer and record producer. He is best known for his hit single "Hear the Drummer ", but he also created member only mixes for the Disco Mix Club . Jackson was born in Manchester, England.-Music career:He won the DMC...
on his 1990 hit single "Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)
Hear the Drummer (Get Wicked)
"Hear the Drummer " is a song by English DJ Chad Jackson, released in 1990. It consisted of samples, and peaked at #3 on the UK Singles Chart.The song was co-produced by Steve Mac.-Samples used:...
" (UK #3 in July 1990), and by DJ Kool
DJ Kool
John W. Bowman, Jr., better known by his stage name DJ Kool is a rapper who, in the late 1990s, produced several popular rap singles. Born in 1959 in Washington, D.C., his influence from his years of working the go-go and rap circuits became apparent in his music...
on his 1996 hit "Let Me Clear My Throat
Let Me Clear My Throat
"Let Me Clear My Throat" is a 1996 song by hip-hop artist DJ Kool from his album of the same name Let Me Clear My Throat. It was recorded live at the Bahama Bay club in Philadelphia.-Track listing:...
" (UK #6 in March 1997).
In 2006, Marva Whitney collaborated with German born DJ/collector/manager DJ Pari
DJ Pari
DJ Pari is a DJ of the genres funk, soul, jazz and Latin. He is mostly known as the founder of the Soulpower organisation and as manager and producer for Soul legends like Marva Whitney, Gwen McCrae, Lyn Collins amongst others....
and Japanese funk orchestra Osaka Monaurail
Osaka Monaurail
is a funk music band, formed in Osaka, Japan. Active since 1992 to present. The group is currently based in Tokyo.-Band members :* Ryo Nakata, vocal & keys* Kentaro Yamagata, trumpet* Seiji Sakakibara, trumpet* Katsutoshi Hiraishi, trombone...
to produce a new single, "I Am What I Am". Osaka Monaurail style themselves on the James Brown sound and the single was produced in the fashion of an authentic release of the recordings she produced with Brown in 1969. Two successful tours of Japan and a full length album release followed, also entitled "I Am What I Am". In 2007, 2008 and 2009, the tour was also brought to Europe.
In December 2009, Marva Whitney collapsed on stage in front of thousands of fans in Lorne, Australia, while performing with The Transatlantics
The Transatlantics
- Biography :The band were formed in 2007 by Adelaide born musicians Ross McHenry, Lachlan Ridge, Kevin Van Der Zwaag and singer Tara Lynch who still form the core of the band as of 2011...
at Falls Festival. She was immediately rushed to Geelong Hospital, where doctors diagnosed a stroke. The remaining dates of her tour had to be canceled, but Whitney made an amazing recovery and is expected to perform again in 2010.
External links
- [ Marva Whitney biography] at Allmusic
- Telephone interview with Marva Whitney at WeFunk Radio