James Brown’s ‘Soul Sister’ Marva Whitney Dies At 68

Marva Whitney, prominent R&B singer with James Brown and in her own right, died on Saturday at the age of 68.

Confirmed by her Facebook, Rolling Stone reported complications with pneumonia as the cause of death.

Whitney – born Marva Ann Manning – toured with James Brown in the late '60s and is said to have been dubbed 'Soul Sister Number One' by Brown himself, after starting as a child in gospel choirs.

Following her time with the James Brown Revue she had much-sampled hits such as Unwind Yourself and It's My Thing (You Can't Tell Me Who To Sock It To).

The official statement read, “She left us with a legacy that will shine forever. Please keep her family in your payers.”