REST IN PEACE, LADY T!

It was just reported less than a half hour ago that a friggin’ goddess has left us. Teena Marie is that singer that transcened race in a unique way. Although a white singer, her impact was strictly on R&B. While white radio made only one of her songs a hit – 1985’s ‘Lovergirl’ –  black radio played her songs to death, as she churned out hits like Square Biz’, ‘I Need Your Lovin”, and the famous duet with Rick James ‘Fire & Desire’. Black America embraced her as its own and never let her go. She is one of the few – very few white artists to find success in black music without branching out just as big in pop, and that’s just the way her fans liked it! She was even signed to Motown! How much of an impact did she have on the community? We are listening to DJ Kelly Brown on Philadelphia’s WDAS at 9:14PM tonight, and this DJ is definitely letting her emotions out. It’s more to say that Teena Marie will be missed. She will be revered!

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It is with great sadness that we report it has been confirmed that soul legend, Teena Marie, passed away at 54 years-old.  At this time, the cause of death is not known.

Lady T, as she was known, was born Mary Christine Brockert in Santa Monica, California. In 1976 she signed with the legendary Motown Records and her debut album, Wild and Peaceful, was released in 1979, which garnered the hits “I’m a Sucker For Your Love” and “Déjà Vu (I’ve Been Here Before).”

It was Marie’s collaboration with Rick James that catapulted her to super stardom. Most notably, the duet “Fire & Desire,” which Marie performed for the last time with Rick James at the 2004 BET Awards.

Teena Marie had the unique experience of being one of few White artists to be so strongly embraced by the African-American community.  She was fixture in the early days of BET and always had consistent airplay on R&B radio.

On a personal note, I interviewed  Teena Marie twice.  Back in May 2009 we talked about her latest album Congo Square and I asked “When you get to heaven, what is the DJ playing?” — she responded with:

I’m sure it’s Aretha Franklin. I’m sure it’s something off the Amazing Grace album. Probably, Aretha Franklin “Wholy Holy.” I hope when Rick James went to heaven they played Aretha Franklin “Wholy Holy” too. He loved her as much as I did. I have a lot of beautiful moments riding around with him in his Rolls, me and him just playing Aretha all day.

THE SONGS

RICK AND TEENA TOGETHER AGAIN