Singer-songwriter Teena Marie dies at 54

[kwassa]

Source: CNN

(CNN) -- Teena Marie, an award-winning R&B singer-songwriter, was found dead Sunday at her California home, her manager said.

Born Mary Christine Brockert in Santa Monica, California, the 54-year-old artist famously paired with late funk legend Rick James and was nominated four times for a Grammy Award, according to her official website.

Marie was found dead by her daughter after apparently dying in her sleep, manager Mike Gardner said.

While no cause of death has been released, the singer's publicist Lynn Jeter said that Marie suffered a grand mal seizure -- a neurological event, marked by loss of consciousness and violent muscle contractions, according to the Mayo Clinic -- a month ago.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/26/teena.marie.dead/

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Teena Marie was a rare example of a white singer that was huge in the black community, but white people, generally, knew nothing about her.

She was a great R&B singer.

Here is a fantastic funk tune by her, her single "Lovergirl" from 1984.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnR7VkEzFlE

[zonkers]

1. she ws smokin talented. a big loss. I've seen her live way back when. Mayber warming

up for Rick James or EWF. She was awesome.

[demwing]

4. She and I went to the same High School and Junior High

And she worked at the fast food joint on the corner where I grew up. She was a local legend. What a loss.

[CoffeeCat]

5. Wow, tell us more...

That is so cool that you knew who she was. What can you tell us
about her? Was she outrageously talented in junior high and high school?

What was she like?

I loved her music in the 1980's. I also remember Molly Ringwald mentioning
Teena Marie in the movie "Pretty in Pink." When Andrew McCarthy waltzes
into the record store, "Andy" asks him what music he's into, "Madonna, Teena Marie?".

She was very cool and you are right, this is a big loss!

[demwing]

17. Everyone knew her, everyone loved her

I remember that she did some TV show when she was in 5th grade, so yeah, she was talented even when just a kid. Everything she did was a big deal, everyone knew she was going somewhere. She wasn't a cheer leader type or the typical high school drama diva. She was just this little person with an enormous voice and personality. She was a few years older than me, but in the same class as my sister, and ran in the same crowd, so she would be at all the same parties we went to. I had faraway crush on her, but so did every guy in our school.

Knowing she's gone makes me feel very, very old...

[Mojorabbit]

2. She was a great singer.

So young. RIP.

[young but wise]

3. I Absolutely love "Fire & Desire."

R.I.P Teena Marie.

[closeupready]

6. Oh, that's sad. Funny, but true:

I HATED Lovergirl when it first came out; now, I absolutely LOVE it. I guess it's a quintessentially 80's song - couldn't be 70's, nor 90's. Teena Marie WAS "Lovergirl" and "Lovergirl" was Teena Marie.

Condolences to her loved ones and family. :cry:

[Hissyspit]

8. Part of it was it being overplayed to hell. Funny, but it doesn't showcase her vocal

abilities all that well.

Listen to her here - amazing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPikYsi6_zU

[Hissyspit]

7. 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 that I saw you whoa oh


Listen to her vocals here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPikYsi6_zU

[me b zola]

9. I had to kick Mr Z off the computer to log on to pay respect to Teena

--What a loss, and she was so damned young. From one soul sister to another, Godspeed Teena.

[me b zola]

10. Lovergirl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYVWoi72Ow4

[bettyellen]

11. Im to talking Square Biz to ya Baby.....

square square biz....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9wotiDai5U

[azurnoir]

12. Deja Vu (I've been here before) one of my favorites

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cvm_AIcSeM

RIP Teena

[blondeatlast]

28. Gorgeous performance. She will be sorely missed. nt

[tishaLA]

13. The loss of a great voice

And, yes, black folks loved her and most white folks only knew Lovergirl. Sad news.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. A tragedy, ain't it? She's the original "Vanilla Child." Madonna tried to take

on that moniker and it didn't work! Teena will always be the one and only. R.I.P., baby girl. She'll be singing in Heaven next to ole Rick.

[DeadEyeDyck]

14. RIP

too young

[K8-EEE]

16. Loved "Lovergirl!" RIP Teena!!

WOW such sad news, way too young!

[me b zola]

18. Probably my favorite:

Teena Marie Déjà Vu I've Been Here Before
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cvm_AIcSeM

[bigdarryl]

19. Singer Tina Marie has died

Source: The Huffington Post



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/26/lovergirl-singer-teena-marie-dead-report_n_801396.html

[xchrom]

20. That's very sad. Nt

[SemperEadem]

21. not only a great singer, but she played guitar

she's one of my guitar heroines.

Rest in Peace, Teena.

[BumRushDaShow]

22. AAHHYEEEEEE NOOOOOOOO!!! R.I.P.

I saw this this morning and still haven't gotten over it.

So many wonderful songs... The queen of the "blue eyed" soul/R&B. You will be missed. For the youngins, before Beyonce was born and when she was in diapers, Teena Marie was rocking the R&B female vocalist music world.

Fire and Desire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm1ibHUyJjA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gm1ibHUyJjA

Portugese Love:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7MJXRIqU7E&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7MJXRIqU7E&feature=related

Ooo La La La

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxL_8EMqkbw&feature=related">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxL_8EMqkbw&feature=related

Damn. :cry:

I hope you are at peace now.

[Brewman_Jax]

23. Such a loss

and the news was all over NPR and the Atlanta affiliate; she was scheduled to perform here New Year's Day.

[chalky]

24. OMG--No! I wore the hell out of her records back in the day.

My all time favorites:

Tune In Tomorrow--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVJkmhuM9t8

I'm Gonna Have My Cake (and Eat It, Too)--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USSaXfL3DdE

Sunny Skies--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Wj4nNQsDYE&feature=related

I liked her dance stuff, but her jazzy stuff was KILLER.

RIP Teena. Thank you for the music.

[xiamiam]

33. thank you for these..had never heard im gonna have my cake,..just great

i posted if i were a bell as well..its also wonderful..I so appreciate her talent. RIP Teena..

[DinahMoeHum]

25. Who could forget "Lead Me On" - from the movie "Top Gun" ??

(the Officer's Club scene - a "target-rich environment")

First time I heard of her was thru that movie. Helluva soundtrack.

RIP Teena Marie - you were a real talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4z_qG6ZgQc

[Name removed]

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[avaistheone1]

29. Sorry to hear this.

She was so young. RIP

http://abcnews.go.com/gma/video/kesha-posts-odd-holiday-card-12471604&tab=9482931§ion=1206836&playlist=2898870

[MadMaddie]

30. One of my first concerts in high school = Teena Marie and Rick James

in San Antonio. All I can say is when the lights went out the lighters came out and all of the smoke (wink, wink) wafted up to the nose bleed seats, where I was sitting.

"MaryJane.....she's my everything"

What a concert!

RIP!

[alp227]

31. One of her songs was on the "Top Gun" soundtrack

Just last night watching CNN I found out about her death first through a coming up next "Remembering Teena Marie" announcement and then a breaking news segment with Don Lemon. What a shock that this'd happen the day after Christmas.

[xiamiam]

32. here is one of my very favorites..RIP Teena..thanks for the music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHcB0c6BeMs

worth listening to the very last note

[okieinpain]

34. damn lady T was white, well isn't that something. n/t.

[cascadiance]

35. Damn, her passing reminds me of how another 80s great, Laura Branigan, passed a few years ago...

of a brain aneurism. They're leaving us too soon!

Gloria - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gucn6XIb5qM

And now I also think of Ofra Haza who passed way too soon as well!

Im Nin 'alu - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5px-ppcQDps

This song sung by Laura that wasn't hers fits this moment well for all of these young ladies that deserved more years!...

Forever Young - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ELgvmeGYlo

RIP Teena, Laura, and Ofra!

And ladies' mortality are fresh in my mind after spending all of Christmas day two days ago with my Mom who had a stroke then... Fortunately she's recovered pretty well from that as of today...

[chalky]

36. Funny you mention Ofra--finding out about Teena Marie on the internet

Reminded me of the day I pulled up the net at work and found out that Ofra Haza had passed...and how I couldn't find anyone to share my shock with because no-one I knew had even heard of her.

Loved Ofra...another one gone too soon.

Take 7/8: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jpV8rKGrkI

Best wishes to your mom! :hug: I'm glad she's doing better.

[Toucano]

37. Goodbye, Lady T. I won't forget the joy your music gave me. n/t