Soul Sister #1 Marva Whitney

Kansas City native and international funk singer Marva Whitney returns to the KCUR studios for a talk with Gina and Walt.

By The Walt Bodine Show, Dec 10, 2009

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Marva Whitney made an international name for herself as a funk singer when she started performing with Godfather of Soul James Brown in the late 1960s.

She's been called the First Lady of Funk, Soul Sister Number 1, Marvelous Marva and Miss Excitement.

But long before any of that, she started singing here in Kansas City as part of her family's gospel revue.

Now in her 60s, Marva Whitney still treats Kansas City as her home base even as she continues to belt it out with backing band Osaka Monaurail, performing throughout Japan.

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