Marva Denise Hicks (May 5, 1956 – September 16, 2022) was an American R&B singer and actress. She signed with Polydor in the late 1980s, recorded her self-titled album in 1991,[ Biography at AllMusic] and later worked in Broadway theatre and on television.
Life and career
Hicks was born and grew up in Petersburg, Virginia, and studied at Howard University.
Initially a gospel singer, she recorded commercial secular music in the late 1970s, first releasing her debut single "Looking Over My Shoulder" in 1978, before being a member of the short-lived quintet Eighties Ladies. The quintet released their only album Ladies of the 80s in 1980, which was entirely produced by Roy Ayers and Edwin Birdsong. In 1991, Hicks released her self-titled debut album and scored her biggest chart hit with the single "Never Been in Love Before", written and produced by Jimmy Scott. The record peaked at number seven on the R&B charts in 1991, while two singles followed. On July 16, 1996, she performed as a background singer for Michael Jackson in a free concert at the Jerudong Park Amphitheatre in Bandar Seri Begawan. The concert was in celebration of the fiftieth birthday of Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei and was attended by the Brunei Royal Family. As part of the set list, Hicks sang the female part of the duet "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" with Jackson. She also performed as a background singer during Michael Jackson's HIStory World Tour.
She also performed as Rafiki in The Lion King, as an understudy for the leading actress. Her other Broadway credits included Motown: The Musical, and Lena Horne, The Lady and Her Music. She won the Helen Hayes Award for her stage work on three occasions.
On television, she played T'Pel, the wife of Tuvok, in two episodes of Star Trek: Voyager, and appeared in several other recurring roles in other series. She sang the gospel song "There's No Hiding Place Down Here" in the Babylon 5 episode "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place".
In 2013, Hicks appeared on the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' album Mosquito, performing as part of Broadway Inspirational Voices on the first single "Sacrilege". In 2020, she played Tallulah Clarke in the world premiere of the musical Gun & Powder.
She died from glioblastoma in New York City on September 16, 2022, at the age of 66.Marva Hicks, Actress in Broadway’s ‘Lion King’ and ‘Motown,’ Dies at 66Petersburg-born singer and actress Marva Hicks dies; friend calls her 'a vocal juggernaut'
Discography Studio albums Ladies of the 80s (with Eighties Ladies) (1980, Uno Melodic) Marva Hicks (1991, Polydor)
Singles "Looking Over My Shoulder" (1978, Infinity) "I Got You Where I Want" (1991, Polydor) "Never Been in Love Before" (1991, Polydor) "One Good Reason" (1991, Polydor)
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1987 Enemy Territory Hysterical Woman 1993 Bodies, Rest & Motion Singer 1995 Virtuosity Onscreen Talent Alien Nation: Body and Soul Balboa TV movie 1996 For the Future: The Irvine Fertility Scandal Tanya TV movie 1998 The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars Singer (voice) Video 1999 Asunder Roberta Williams 2000 In a Blue Mood Iris Blue Short 2005 On the One Cora Lee 2007 AfterLife Alicia Short 2013 Labor Day Morning Anchor
Television Year Title Role Notes 1992–93 L.A. Law Lee Johnson Episode: "Love on the Rox" & "Spanky and the Art Gang" 1993–95 Mad About You Remy Recurring Cast: Season 2–3 1994 The Bold and the Beautiful Stewardess Episode: "Episode #1.1745" The Sinbad Show Rachel Episode: "Love Lessons" South Central - Episode: "CO-op" 1994–96 Sister, Sister Various 4 Episodes 1995–2000 Star Trek: Voyager T'Pel Guest Cast: Season 2 & 5 & 7 1996 Babylon 5 Singer Episode: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" 1997–98 One Life to Live Jacara Principal Regular Cast 2008 E! True Hollywood Story Herself Episode: "Star Jones" 2013 House of Cards Strategist 1 Episode: "Chapter 5" 2015 Daredevil District Attorney Episode: "Daredevil" 2016 Search Party Virginia Episode: "The Return of the Forgotten Phantom" 2017 The Blacklist Judge Episode: "Smokey Putnum (No. 30)" 2019 Madam Secretary Chief Clerk Episode: "The New Normal"
References
External links