 In this July 2009 file photo, Teena Marie performs during the Essence Music Festival at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. AP photo |
Teena Marie, the "Ivory Queen of Soul" who developed a lasting legacy with her silky soul hits like "Lovergirl," "Square Biz," and "Fire and Desire" died Sunday at the age of 54 in the United States.
A statement from police in the city of Pasadena, California, said the death appeared to be from natural causes. The police and fire department were called to her home after family members found her unresponsive.
In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Teena Marie said she had successfully battled an addiction to prescription drugs. She went on tour last year to support her last album, "Congo Square."
Marie certainly wasn't the first white act to sing soul music, but she was arguably among the most gifted and respected, and was thoroughly embraced by black audiences.
Even before she started her musical career, she had a strong bond with the black community, which she credited to her godmother. She gravitated to soul music and in her youth decided to make it her career.
Marie made her debut on the legendary Motown label back in 1979, becoming one of the very few white acts to break the race barrier of the groundbreaking black-owned record label that was a haven for black artists like Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, the Supremes and Marvin Gaye.
Marie was the protege of the masterful funk wizard Rick James, with whom she would have long, turbulent but musically magical relationship. The cover of her debut album, "Wild and Peaceful," did not feature her image, with Motown apparently fearing black audiences might not buy it if they found out the songstress with the dynamic, gospel-inflected voice was white.
In 2004 and 2006 she put out two well-received albums on the traditional rap label Cash Money Records, "La Dona" and "Sapphire." In 2008, she talked about her excitement of being honored by the R&B Foundation.
"All in all, it's been a wonderful, wonderful ride," she told Associated at the time. "I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."
A statement from police in the city of Pasadena, California, said the death appeared to be from natural causes. The police and fire department were called to her home after family members found her unresponsive.
In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Teena Marie said she had successfully battled an addiction to prescription drugs. She went on tour last year to support her last album, "Congo Square."
Marie certainly wasn't the first white act to sing soul music, but she was arguably among the most gifted and respected, and was thoroughly embraced by black audiences.
Even before she started her musical career, she had a strong bond with the black community, which she credited to her godmother. She gravitated to soul music and in her youth decided to make it her career.
Marie made her debut on the legendary Motown label back in 1979, becoming one of the very few white acts to break the race barrier of the groundbreaking black-owned record label that was a haven for black artists like Stevie Wonder, the Jackson Five, the Supremes and Marvin Gaye.
Marie was the protege of the masterful funk wizard Rick James, with whom she would have long, turbulent but musically magical relationship. The cover of her debut album, "Wild and Peaceful," did not feature her image, with Motown apparently fearing black audiences might not buy it if they found out the songstress with the dynamic, gospel-inflected voice was white.
In 2004 and 2006 she put out two well-received albums on the traditional rap label Cash Money Records, "La Dona" and "Sapphire." In 2008, she talked about her excitement of being honored by the R&B Foundation.
"All in all, it's been a wonderful, wonderful ride," she told Associated at the time. "I don't plan on stopping anytime soon."
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