RIP Teena Marie March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010

Teena Marie singing with her daughter Alia Rose






Yesterday we lost on of the greatest voices of R&B a day after her daughter 19th birthday. Teena Marie was influential to many, her voice used as an instrument in the purest form. Teena Marie , born Mary Christine Brockert nickname Lady T grew up in grew up in the historically African-American enclave of Oakwood, California. Protegée of late funk legend Rick James she is credited with many hits such as If I were a Bell, Square Biz, Cassanova Brown and the sultry hit Portuguese Love.

Influences include Nancy Wilson, Led Zepplin, Motown, Aretha Franklin, the Supremes, Lena Horne, Minnie Riperton Sarah Vaughn but she has influenced many artists such as Alicia Keys, Mary J, Faith Evans and more who were prompt to send their condolences to her daughter and send words of love for the artists. She was sampled by a number of artists such as Redman, The Fugees, Ludacris, Three Six mafia and Grand Puba.

Funny Story from Teena Marie's unofficial page about her acting up in church (all the greats do is

"Apparently Teena had a will to sing early on. One day at church when she was 2, she heard the priest's chant ("Dominus vobiscum, et cum spiritu tuo"). In trying to emulate the priest's sounds, young Teena belted out Harry Belafonte's "Day-O," and her mother hauled her out of the church underneath her coat."

Personally for me Teena Marie was that artist who I grew up on her music, singing it in the shower. She was a living legend because there is only one. No one sounded like her. She was one that I felt should have gotten more air time. A treasure because her voice would make you feel what she was singing. R&B will mourn her she is a loss, music will mourn her. RIP