Post by Rob Durkee on Dec 27, 2010 1:34:13 GMT -5
By ROCKIN' ROBIN
Teena Marie, who was best known for her 1985 hit "Lovergirl" and was one of the few solo women to have hits on the Motown label, died Sunday (December 26, 2010). She was 54. Initial reports by the Associated Press did not detail where she died or the cause of death. According to AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Teena Marie had overcome an addiction to prescription drugs in recent years.
Dubbed "The Ivory Queen Of Soul" and "Lady T," Teena Marie reached #5 in 1985 on the Cash Box pop chart with "Lovergirl." Ironically, the song wasn't on the Motown label, where she originally broke through. Instead, "Lovergirl" was on the Epic Label. Marie had left Motown in a bitter dispute in 1982. She sued the label. Her legal move led to the passage of a law forbidding record labels to hold onto an artist without releasing any of such artists' recordings.
While with Motown, Marie barely missed the Cash Box Top 40 with "I Need Your Lovin' " (#44 in 1980). Her only other Cash Box pop chart single was "Square Biz," which reached #49 in 1981. Plus, Marie worked with Rick James as the two recorded the duet "Fire And Desire."
According to Matt Wilson, the long-time writer-director for the radio show "American Top 40," Teena Marie was much more successful on the R&B chart. There, she initially hit with "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" in 1979. She had over 20 hits on the R&B chart, including #1 R&B hit "Ooo La La La" in 1988.
Teena Marie wasn't the first white solo woman to have a top 5 hit on the Motown label. That honor went to Charlene, whose "I've Never Been To Me" reached #3 in 1982. Meanwhile, a number of male acts have had hits with the Motown label and/or its affiliates. Also according to Wilson, comedian Tommy Chong was a member of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and co-wrote the group's biggest hit, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," a #44 hit in 1968.
The list of male acts to have hits for the Motown label or its affiliates is an impressive one. Among them were Bobby Darin, Rare Earth, Bruce Willis, R. Dean Taylor, the Four Seasons, Duane Eddy, Tom Clay, Dorsey Burnette, Sam Harris, the Sam Remo Golden Strings and the duo of Stoney and Meatloaf.
Teena Marie was born Mary Christine Brockert on March 5, 1956. As Teena Marie Brockert, she had an acting role on an episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" as a child. In 2008, she was honored by the R&B Foundation. "All in all, it's been a wonderful, wonderful ride," she said at the time.
Teena Marie, who was best known for her 1985 hit "Lovergirl" and was one of the few solo women to have hits on the Motown label, died Sunday (December 26, 2010). She was 54. Initial reports by the Associated Press did not detail where she died or the cause of death. According to AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody, Teena Marie had overcome an addiction to prescription drugs in recent years.
Dubbed "The Ivory Queen Of Soul" and "Lady T," Teena Marie reached #5 in 1985 on the Cash Box pop chart with "Lovergirl." Ironically, the song wasn't on the Motown label, where she originally broke through. Instead, "Lovergirl" was on the Epic Label. Marie had left Motown in a bitter dispute in 1982. She sued the label. Her legal move led to the passage of a law forbidding record labels to hold onto an artist without releasing any of such artists' recordings.
While with Motown, Marie barely missed the Cash Box Top 40 with "I Need Your Lovin' " (#44 in 1980). Her only other Cash Box pop chart single was "Square Biz," which reached #49 in 1981. Plus, Marie worked with Rick James as the two recorded the duet "Fire And Desire."
According to Matt Wilson, the long-time writer-director for the radio show "American Top 40," Teena Marie was much more successful on the R&B chart. There, she initially hit with "I'm A Sucker For Your Love" in 1979. She had over 20 hits on the R&B chart, including #1 R&B hit "Ooo La La La" in 1988.
Teena Marie wasn't the first white solo woman to have a top 5 hit on the Motown label. That honor went to Charlene, whose "I've Never Been To Me" reached #3 in 1982. Meanwhile, a number of male acts have had hits with the Motown label and/or its affiliates. Also according to Wilson, comedian Tommy Chong was a member of Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and co-wrote the group's biggest hit, "Does Your Mama Know About Me," a #44 hit in 1968.
The list of male acts to have hits for the Motown label or its affiliates is an impressive one. Among them were Bobby Darin, Rare Earth, Bruce Willis, R. Dean Taylor, the Four Seasons, Duane Eddy, Tom Clay, Dorsey Burnette, Sam Harris, the Sam Remo Golden Strings and the duo of Stoney and Meatloaf.
Teena Marie was born Mary Christine Brockert on March 5, 1956. As Teena Marie Brockert, she had an acting role on an episode of "The Beverly Hillbillies" as a child. In 2008, she was honored by the R&B Foundation. "All in all, it's been a wonderful, wonderful ride," she said at the time.