Teena Marie is by far amongst the greats of Soul Music Icons, a little fire cracker who let her talent speak for itself instead of being stereotyped as just another blue eyed soul crooner or Ivory Queen of Soul. I, like most people never really thought about Teena Marie’s color because her voice was just too powerful & captivating to be distracted by anything else. Teena Marie was the iron in the fire, our Portugese love, our Lovergirl who always brought fire & desire in standing ovations every time she touched the mic. Teena Marie was the truth, she wore her heart on her sleeve, sang from her soul & the little mama never took no mess! Teena Marie was an award winning badass funkalicious musician to the core, who played multiple instruments & paved the way for many young White female artists like Joss Stone & Christina Aguilera along with Sheena Easton, Lisa Stansfeild & many others to capture their soul in a loose comparison to Lady T based mostly on color because as talented as they all maybe individually, they can never touch Lady T in the overall diversity of her talents & iconic status. It is a a shame to me that I have never heard these women who Lady T clearly paved the way for pay homage to her while she was alive. From Funk, to Soul, To R&B, to Jazz, to Gospel-when Lady T touched the mic our spirits were anointed, our souls were awakened & our hearts were blessed with pure powerful soulfilled goodness. Teena Marie, our California sunshine vanilla child will be dearly missed, but like so many of our greats that have earned their angel’s wings, she left behind an incomparable musical legacy to last us for a lifetime!
Teena Marie : Decoded
“Teena Marie (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010) was an American singer–songwriter–producer. Marie, nicknamed Lady Tee, (sometimes spelled Lady T), was a protégée of late funk legend Rick James, and was notable as one of the few successful white performers of R&B. 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. She said it was her favorite album. She had a daughter, Alia Rose, who, as of 2009, sang under the name Rose Le Beau. Marie died on Sunday, December 26, 2010, at home, as announced by her manager, Mike Gardner.She was 54. A four-time Grammy nominee, Mary Christine Brockert had a strong African-American influence from her godmother. Blessed with the gift of music at a young age, the Santa Monica, California, native grew up in the historically African-American enclave of Oakwood in westside Los Angeles. Raised on Motown music and singing Harry Belafonte music by age 2, Marie’s self-professed “Gift from God” would become fine-tuned as the years progressed…”READ MORE
“I had something to say with Sudan..It’s a terrible situation..I wanted somebody who could bring it home…There’s not too many people who can bring it home like Teena could bring it home when you want to make a statement…” George Duke on Having Teena Marie on his Sudan project.
All Time favorite
Coffee, tea, or me, baby…Touche ole…My opening line might be a bit passe…But don’t think that I don’t know…What I’m feeling for you…’Cause I got a vibe on you the first time…I saw you (saw you)…I need your love, and I won’t bring no pain…A little birdie told me that you feel the same…I’m for the real, and for you I’m true blue…Let’s make a deal sugar, all I want to do…Is be your one and only lover…I just want to be your Lovergirl…I just want to rock your world….
Incomparable Lady T…TAKE UR ANGEL’S WINGS & BE FREE!
Heaven is Rockin’ with some heavy funk & soul this New Year with these two-We will forever be suckers for the love of Rick & Teena!
