Disco, Soul, Gold Tribute! In loving memory of Teena Marie (born Mary Christine Brockert March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010)- The Ivory Queen of Soul- Lady T was a singer, composer, producer. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards, and congas. She also wrote, produced, sang, and arranged virtually all of her songs since her 1980 release, Irons in the Fire, which she later said was her favorite album. She was signed to Motown records, Rick James who was immediately impressed with her sound. Rick James, already established as a successful recording artist, was on tap to produce for Diana Ross but changed his mind, Im a Sucker for Your Love was released & scored the pair a hit, from her debut album release, Wild and Peaceful. The album was, at one point, due to be credited to Teena Tryson, but ultimately was put out under Teena Marie. In 1980, her second album, Lady T, would have her portrait on the cover upon its release. Its also noted for having production from Richard Rudolph (husband of R&B singer Minnie Riperton, who had died a year earlier). Teena Marie had asked Berry Gordy to contact Rudolph and secure his input as Rick James was unavailable and she felt unprepared to be sole producer of her own material. Rudolph intended for the song he penned, Now That I Have You, to be sung by his wife, but it was later given to Teena Marie. Rudolph also co-composed the single Behind The Groove, which reached #21 on the black singles chart and #6 on the U.K. singles chart in 1980. Also in 1980, Teena Marie released her third LP, Irons in the Fire, for which she handled all writing and production herself. The single I Need Your Lovin (#37 Pop, #9 Soul R&B Singles) brought Teena Marie her first top 40 US hit. This single also peaked at #28 in the UK chart. Teena Marie continued her success with Motown in 1981, with the release of It Must Be Magic with contained the hits, Square Biz & Portuguese Love. She left Motown as the labels most successful Blue eyed Soul solo act. She signed to Epic & released the albums, Robbery & Starchild which yielded her biggest US hit Lovergirl, which peaked at #4 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 2004 she was signed to Cash Money Records, she released her comeback album, La Doña, in 2004, and follow up Sapphire, in 2006. La Doña became a gold-certified success (and the highest-charting album of her career, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart) on the basis of the Al Green-sampled Im Still In Love (#23 R&B, No. 70 Pop) and a duet with the late Gerald Levert, A Rose by Any Other Name. In 2004, while Teena Marie was sleeping in a hotel room, a large picture frame fell and struck her on the head. The blow caused a serious concussion that would result in momentary seizures for the rest of her life. On the afternoon of December 26, 2010, Teena Marie was found unresponsive by her daughter Alia Rose at her home in Pasadena, California. Teena Marie never married. She gave birth to a daughter named Alia Rose in 1991. GARY
Posted on: Fri, 26 Dec 2014 10:22:26 +0000
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