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Industry News
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Marva King
Despite the massive success of her stage debut, King, has far more to her stellar resume than just her diary. As the daughter of performers, King always appreciated music and began performing gospel at 13 with the Clarke Sisters and Andre Crouch. She worked with Stevie Wonder when she was still a teenager, sang on Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, and toured and recorded with Prince as a member of the New Power Generation, as well as Lenny Kravitz. She is also heard on albums by Tupac Shakur, Jimmy Cliff, Chaka Khan, Lionel Richie and Phil Collins, just to name a few. She co-wrote the Whispers’ single, “Innocent,” which debuted at #4 on the “Billboard” Hot Singles Chart. Her own music has crossed several genres and includes a CD, Soul of Brazil, which has already been released in that country and is being released this year by You/Warner Bros. Records in the United States. Holed up in the studio, the prolific vocalist with the four-octave range is currently recording her upcoming neo-soul and R&B CD, Soul Sistah which has tracks that explore all forms of soul music. When asked to pick her own favorites, King could not choose just one. She likes “Mellow,” a track that has the power to ease her mood. She also enjoys “Sistah,” featuring violists Karen Briggs a track destined to be an anthem. “Know You,” which has been called one of several “tantalizing” tracks on the CD, also made her list. It’s understandable that she would have a hard time choosing a single favorite. King has received “Universal Love” from audiences around the world, and surely gives it back in her track of the same name. Listeners will also be interested to know that Soul Sistah includes a version of Minnie Ripperton’s “Baby This Love” featuring George Duke and Stanley Clarke. The fact that Marva King has her own calendar for sale may be the only way that fans can keep up with all of this Flint, Michigan native’s projects. It starts in August of this year and goes through January of 2007. Sultry yet tasteful photographs of King and lyrics from her music adorn its pages. In addition to being in the studio working on her latest CD, Soul Sistah, she also has a featured part in Resurrection: The J. R. Richard Story, an award-winning film set for distribution this year. Resurrection: The J. R. Richard Story is a biopic about the ups and downs of former Houston Astros pitcher, J. R. Richard. The film has already garnered attention on the festival circuit, showing around the country and in international venues and winning a Gold Remi award at the WorldFest. Marva King plays Cindy Young, a reporter who maintained a connection with Richard after his career-ending stroke. King says she appreciated being able to play “a character who remained supportive” of Richard. The film is due out late this year. King has also published her first book, Diary of a Black Woman: Madea and Me, which chronicles her time playing the lead in the stage production of the Tyler Perry play. From the moment the book opens, King doesn’t mince words. She makes it clear that from the beginning. The part of Helen in “Diary Of A Mad Black Woman” was author Marva King’s first featured role in a live theatrical production. For Marva, the stage was already a familiar platform – as a singer. Acting in Diary proved to be a challenging yet rewarding experience. After performing in Diary across the U.S. for six months and filming the play for release on DVD, Marva realized that her role opposite Madea (Tyler Perry) and the chemistry between the cast and the audience had resulted in a runway hit. Never had Marva imagined she would hear her name or see her face along side Madea’s everywhere she turned, or that this dramatic/comedic theatrical baby would grow into a mega giant. Letters and emails continue to pour in from Marva’s fans with compliments, concerns, and questions, questions, questions… While on the road, Marva King kept a journal. “Diary Of A Mad Black Woman:” Madea and Me is an intelligent, candid, and vividly humorous collection of onstage and behind-the-scenes memories of life on the Diary Tour.
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