Rick James Protégé, R&B Singer-Songwriter, Teena Marie Dead at Age 54

Motown's first white act, R&B singer-songwriter & Rick James protégé, Teena Marie, dead at age 54.

SHOCK: Singer-songwriter Teena Marie has died. She was 54 years old. According to CNN, Marie was found dead by her daughter. Her manager, Mike Gardner, told CNN, she apparently died in her sleep. Her publicist, Lynn Jeter, said she suffered a grand mal seizure a month ago. Teena Marie, who was born Mary Christine Brockert, is best known for her duets with Rick James, who died a few years ago. According to the NY Daily News, Marie tweeted a Sarah Vaughan song lyric: "May you never grow old, and may I never die." That's eerie!

"Luckily, someone was there," Jeter said of that seizure. "The ambulance took her to the hospital, and on the way she had another seizure." The publicist said that she had a "great" conversation on Saturday with Marie, who told her that she was excited about heading to Atlanta to perform this week (with Frankie Beverly & Maze) -- in what would have been her first performance since the seizure." Source: CNN

Teena Marie released 13 studio albums over the course of her career, which included the 1984 mega-hit "Lovergirl." Among her songs were "Lovergirl," "Portuguese Love" and "I'm a Sucker for Your Love." Wow. This is a shock indeed. We have lost another great singer, who didn't get the props she was due. Marie joins Gerald Levert, Luther Vandross, Michael Jackson, Rick James and other famous singers in the great hereafter. Seems like we have lost a singer around Christmas-time pretty often -- James Brown & Eartha Kitt come to mind. Rest in peace Teena Marie, rest in peace. You are among the few white singers who could cross over to R&B effortlessly -- including Dusty Springfield, who died in 1999 after battling breast cancer. You did your thing girl!

Teena Marie told Essence.com, during an interview last year, that she's "a black woman artist with white skin." I am pointing this out because CNN spoke with Radio One's Cathy Hughes, who said she was "a black woman trapped in a white body" and some commenters aren't taking it too kindly. Er, Teena Marie said it herself, so I hope the haters will stop trying to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

ESSENCE.COM: You've enjoyed many blessings, especially with cult classics like "Fire and Desire," your duet with the late great Rick James. How has his death affected you? 

TEENA MARIE: After his death I became addicted to Vicodin, which I had been taking for my physical pain because I'd had a lot of accidents. Once I realized that those pills not only took away my physical agony by masking my emotional pain I really became addicted. When I was on the medication I never cried about him, but then I went cold turkey and I cried so much and have been for the last three years. He was my musical soul mate. We were like an extension of each other. I miss all our talks. We were like family; only family can talk about family, not anyone else.

ESSENCE.COM: Many people were shocked to discover that you were a White woman after that song topped the charts. Were you ever criticized?

TEENA MARIE: Black people would always say, "I didn't know you were White." But people like good music. Back in the forties and fifties they made the race records where a group like The Temptations wouldn't appear on the cover of the album. Mr. Gordy used the same concept with me for my first album. He said that is was so soulful that he wanted to give the music an opportunity to stand on its own merit. Instead of my face, they put a seascape, so by the time my second album came out people were like, Lady T is White? Omigod? 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. Visit Essence.com to read entire interview.

Watch one of Lady T's videos -- Ooo la la la



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