BUFFALO, N.Y. — Cynthia Moore was born and raised in Buffalo, but the singer can boast being known as the woman the late singer James Brown called “First Sister.”
While singing with a local group called the Unity Band she came in contact with a local guitarist for the God Father of Soul who knew he needed female vocalists. She sent a cassette tape, but Brown wanted to see her and she took the drive down to Augusta, Georgia. He was so impressed, she said, he told her, “you sound like that, I got to hire you.”
Moore’s first gig with James Brown was in 1991 performing on the Living in America pay-per-view performance.
She has traveled all over the world. Often James Brown would often feature her on lead vocals.
“He was diligent in what he wanted, he knew what he wanted, he wanted perfection,” she said.
The JB's is a group of musicians and singers who once worked with the late great singer and they are still going strong. Cynthia still performs when she can.
Before his death, Moore said Buffalo was one of his favorite places to come and perform.
In May she will perform in Paris with the JB’s.
You can watch the full episode of "commUNITY" on our YouTube page below.