Rest In Peace “LADY T” Blue-eyed Queen of Soul, and Rick James Protegee, died at the age of 54.
March 5, 1956-December 26, 2010
What are some of your favorite Teena Marie tunes?
Prayers to her daughter Alia Rose and family.
Update 12-29-10
Teena & daughter Alia Rose
Even though 3Chics Politico is written and curated by three women: Ametia, Rikyrah, and SouthernGirl2, I must nominate this as one of the most engaging blogs I've found. Devoted to politics and culture, these three shine a light on contemporary life with humor and spirit.
Alia Rose is gorgeous!
She’s a BEAUTY!
In Memorium – Teena Marie
http://arssacra.wordpress.com/2010/12/27/in-memorium-teena-marie/
Teena Marie (born Mary Christine Brockert, March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010). R&B singer & composer, actress.
Teena Marie grew up in a black neighborhood in west Los Angeles, listening to Motown music. Her vocal talent was evident at a very young age. As a child, she became an established singer and actress, even appearing on The Beverly Hillbillies. She became the first white artist signed to Motown, where she became a protogé of Rick James. The two were later involved romantically. James produced her first album, while her second was produced by Richard Rudolph, the husband of singer Minnie Ripperton. Their daughter, comedian Maya Rudolph, became Teena Marie’s god-daughter and sang on the album at the age of seven. After this, Teena Marie wrote, arranged, and produced all of her music. In addition to her soulful voice, she also played guitar, keyboards, and percussion on her albums.
Teena Marie scored several hits with songs like Behind the Groove, I Need Your Loving, and Fire and Desire, a duet with Rick James. (They later reunited in 2004 to sing it at the BET Awards, shortly before James’ death.) She continued to have chart successes with Square Biz (an early influence on rap and hip-hop), Portuguese Love, You So Heavy, (featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan), the best-selling pop hit Lovergirl, and Ooh La La, which was later redone by the Fugees. After the birth of her daughter, Alia Rose, she took an extended break from recording. She had comeback success, starting in 2004, with the album La Doña, which featured a duet with Gerald Levert. She followed this with the albums Resilient and the jazzy Congo Square, which included duets with her daughter, now performing under the stage name “Rose LeBeau” and hip-hop/soul singer Faith Evans. She was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2005.
Teena Marie posted on Twitter on Christmas day to celebrate the 19th birthday of Alia Rose. She was found dead the next day by her daughter. She had suffered from seizures in the past and reportedly may have suffered one shortly before her death. Her influence on R&B, hip-hop, and rap was large, as seen in artists like Mary J. Blige, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill, and she is remembered as “Lady T, the Ivory Queen of Soul”. As she commented in an interview for Essence,
“I’m a Black artist with White skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what’s in your own soul… I really don’t judge my terms of success by awards but where I sit with God, my friends and my family. That’s way more important.”
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<This one right here:
Teena Marie, known as ‘Ivory Queen of Soul,’ dies
http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=619530>1=28102
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Teena Marie’s last album, “Congo Square,” was titled after a historical meeting place for slaves in New Orleans, featured a tribute to Martin Luther King’s widow and also song “Black Cool,” written for President Barack Obama.
No matter that Marie, 54, was white. The R&B legend revered and fully immersed herself in black culture — and in turn was respected and adored by black audiences, not only for her immense soulful talents, but for her inner soul as well.
“Overall my race hasn’t been a problem. I’m a black artist with white skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what’s in your own soul,” she told Essence.com in an interview last year while promoting “Congo Square.” That album would turn out to be her last.
The self-proclaimed “Ivory Queen of Soul,” whose many classic hits included “Lovergirl,” Square Biz” and the scorching duet “Fire and Desire” with mentor Rick James, was found dead in her Pasadena home on Sunday at the age of 54. Authorities said her death appeared to be of natural causes.
I’m lovin you,
I’m still loving you, baby
I’m still in love
(Nobody’s gonna take your place in my life)
No one else but you baby (I’m still in love)
I’m lovin you,
I’m still lovin you, honey
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,
I’m feeling you, what you feeling tonight? Baby
I’ll always love you, Teena Marie! Your voice will live on!
There will never be another like “Lady T’ Girl, we used to jam to her soulfulness til the wee, wee, hours of the morning. When you’ve got that inner SOULFUL groove, it transcends outwardly. Teen Marie was SOUL period.
My favorite….I’m Still In Love
OMG! I am shocked to hear the news. 54 years old! What happened?
I’ve got a feeling Teena will be back….. just sayin’.
This is so sad. I have her music playing on my iPod now. Rest in peace Teena. May the angels sing as another one of God’s glories has arrived!!
My daughter Nicole sent me the news via chat. so the hat tip goes to her.. I’m so sorry to hear this. My heart goes out to her daughter.
Alia Rose is a beautiful young lady.
Here you go, Nicole! :-)