Lost Two This Week

R.I.P. Marva Whitney and Fontella Bass

Lost two gems this past week. Marva Whitney had a killer, aggressive sound (strident to some), started in gospel, worked with James Brown, and is most famous for her retort to the Isley Brothers' song "It's Your Thing." Damn straight it was her thing, and those Isley's didn't need to tell her she could do what she wanted with it, 'cause she was already doin' it.

Fontella Bass passed away this week as well. She also got her start as Marva and so many others did, singing gospel, then R&B, then soul. From wikipedia:

"At seventeen, she started her professional career working at the Showboat Club near Chain of Rocks, Missouri. In 1961, she auditioned on a dare for the Leon Claxton carnival show and was hired to play piano and sing in the chorus for two weeks, making $175 per week for the two weeks it was in town. She wanted to go on tour with Claxton but her mother refused and according to Bass "... she literally dragged me off the train". It was during this brief stint with Claxton that she was heard by vocalist Little Milton and his bandleader Oliver Sain who hired her to back Little Milton on piano for concerts and recording.^"

^{Known for her biggest hit, "Rescue Me," a million seller, she never got the royalties she deserved from the recording. Killer tune, killer songstress.} 

Rest in Peace, ladies!