Biography Vicki Anderson

Vicki Anderson (born Myra Barnes in Houston, TX, on 21 November 1939; died July 2023) was an American soul singer best known for her performances with the James Brown Revue. She recorded a number of singles under both her birth name (Myra Barnes) and her stage name. She was the widow of Bobby Byrd and the mother of Carleen Anderson.

Anderson joined the James Brown Revue in 1965, succeeding Anna King, and stayed for three years as Brown's main female singer, until she was succeeded by Marva Whitney in 1968. She rejoined in 1969 after Whitney departed, staying for a further three years until 1972, after which Lyn Collins took over from her. Brown claimed in his autobiography that Anderson was the best singer he ever had in his revue.

In 1970, she released her most famous song, the feminist anthem "The Message from the Soul Sisters."

A single on James' I-Dentify label by Momie-O appeared in 1975 featuring a cover of Rufus' hit "Once You Get Started" and Bobby Womack's "Stop On By".

Anderson toured the UK with the James Brown Funky People Revue in the late 1980s and again with husband Bobby Byrd, the founder of The Famous Flames, in the mid-1990s.

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