Marva Hicks, a popular R&B singer, and actress died on September 16 at the age of 47. Her cause of death has not yet been established, and it is unclear if she was suffering from any health problems. Her husband, Akwasi Taha, and her family made the announcement to Ebony magazine, saying,
“Her devotion to her spouse, family, friends, and the entertainment world knew no boundaries.” The overwhelming outpouring of affection has greatly moved us. Thank you for your kindness and prayers.”
Holly Robinson-Peete, an actress and close friend of Hicks, also paid homage to her on social media.
Twitter users pay tribute
Marva Hicks’ name became well-known throughout the years as a result of her countless performances in film, television, and stage. When word of her death spread, Twitter was inundated with tributes.
RIP the incredibly talented Marva Hicks https://t.co/rZ54VzuPS3
— Leesa “Lorq Von Bae” Dean (@chilltowntv) September 18, 2022
Not just a great soul singer, also occasional actress as Vulcan T’Pel on #startrekvoyager and the DA on Marvel’s #Daredevil . RIP Marva Hicks. https://t.co/HwpjqryD10
— the4thpip (@the4thpip) September 18, 2022
All About Marva Hicks
Marva Hicks was born in Petersburg, but her exact birth date is uncertain. She rose to prominence for her work on television, which includes roles on One Life to Live, Sister, Sister, and Star Trek: Voyager. She played Roberta Williams in both the 1999 film Asunder and the 2013 film Labor Day. Aside from her television and film roles, she was most recognized for her Broadway and off-Broadway plays. Among her memorable appearances were Motown the Musical, Caroline or Change, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, and others.
She received the Helen Hayes Award three times and toured alongside musicians such as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, James Ingram, and Sheryl Crow. In 1991, her song Never Been In Love Before reached the seventh spot on the R&B chart. The song appeared on her self-titled first album, which was published the same year. She studied theater in New York before embarking on a successful career in the entertainment world. She also took acting classes in Washington, D.C. She made a few demos before releasing Looking Over My Shoulder in 1981.
Hicks then spent three years singing in Lena Horne’s Broadway musical and met Stevie Wonder while touring London. She began traveling with him in the mid-1980s and was a background vocalist on his first album, Characters. In the late 1980s, she signed Polydor Records Ltd. and released her debut self-titled LP in 1991. However, it was a commercial failure.
She even played Rafiki in The Lion King, a musical drama based on the 1994 Walt Disney Animation Studios animated picture of the same name. In an episode of the space opera television series Babylon 5, she sung the gospel hymn There’s No Hiding Place Down Here. She was later included on the indie rock band Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ album Mosquito.
