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- Ultimate Collection: Teena Marie
- Released 2000
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- La Doña
- Released 2004
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- Sapphire
- Released 2006
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biography
No white artist has sang R&B more convincingly than Teena Marie, whose big, robust vocals are so black-sounding that when she was starting out, some listeners wondered if she was a light-skinned African-American. Not to be confused with Brazilian jazz singer Tânia Maria, Marie grew up in west Los Angeles in a neighborhood that was nicknamed "Venice Harlem" because of its heavy black population. The singer/songwriter/producer was in her early twenties when, around 1977, she landed a job at Motown Records. It was at Motown that she met her mentor and paramour-to-be, Rick James, who ended up doing all of the writing and producing for her debut album of 1979, Wild and Peaceful. That LP, which boasted her hit duet with James, "I'm Just a Sucker for Your Love," didn't show Marie's picture -- so many programmers at black radio just assumed she was black. When her second album, Lady T, came out, much of the R&B world was shocked to see how fair-skinned she was. But to many of the black R&B fans who were eating her music up, it really didn't matter -- the bottom line was she was a first-rate soul singer whose love of black culture ran deep.
By her third album, 1980's gold Irons in the Fire, Marie was doing most of her own writing and producing. That album boasted the major hit "I Need Your Lovin'," and Marie went gold again with her next album, It Must Be Magic (which included the major hit "Square Biz"). It Must Be Magic turned out to be her last album for Motown, which she had a nasty legal battle with. Marie got out of her contract with Motown, and the case ended up with the courts passing what is known as "The Teena Marie Law" -- which states that a label cannot keep an artist under contract without putting out an album by him or her.
Switching to Epic in 1983, Marie recorded her fifth album, Robbery, and had a hit with "Fix It." In 1984, Marie recorded her sixth album, Starchild, and had her biggest pop hit ever with "Lovergirl." Though Marie had often soared to the top of the R&B charts, "Lovergirl" marked the first time she'd done so well in the pop market. Ironically, Marie was a white singer who had enjoyed little exposure outside the R&B market prior to "Lovegirl."
Three more Epic albums followed: 1986's Emerald City, 1988's Naked to the World (which contained her smash hit "Ooh La La La"), and 1990's Ivory. Unfortunately, Marie's popularity had faded considerably by the late '80s, and Epic dropped her. In 1994, the singer released Passion Play on her own Sarat label. Ten years later, she signed to Cash Money and released La Doña, featuring assistance from Gerald LeVert, Rick James, and MC Lyte. Sapphire followed two years later. Though both La Doña and Sapphire peaked at number three on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, she switched to Stax for her next album, 2009's Congo Square. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
By her third album, 1980's gold Irons in the Fire, Marie was doing most of her own writing and producing. That album boasted the major hit "I Need Your Lovin'," and Marie went gold again with her next album, It Must Be Magic (which included the major hit "Square Biz"). It Must Be Magic turned out to be her last album for Motown, which she had a nasty legal battle with. Marie got out of her contract with Motown, and the case ended up with the courts passing what is known as "The Teena Marie Law" -- which states that a label cannot keep an artist under contract without putting out an album by him or her.
Switching to Epic in 1983, Marie recorded her fifth album, Robbery, and had a hit with "Fix It." In 1984, Marie recorded her sixth album, Starchild, and had her biggest pop hit ever with "Lovergirl." Though Marie had often soared to the top of the R&B charts, "Lovergirl" marked the first time she'd done so well in the pop market. Ironically, Marie was a white singer who had enjoyed little exposure outside the R&B market prior to "Lovegirl."
Three more Epic albums followed: 1986's Emerald City, 1988's Naked to the World (which contained her smash hit "Ooh La La La"), and 1990's Ivory. Unfortunately, Marie's popularity had faded considerably by the late '80s, and Epic dropped her. In 1994, the singer released Passion Play on her own Sarat label. Ten years later, she signed to Cash Money and released La Doña, featuring assistance from Gerald LeVert, Rick James, and MC Lyte. Sapphire followed two years later. Though both La Doña and Sapphire peaked at number three on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, she switched to Stax for her next album, 2009's Congo Square. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
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Love Her
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- By DsrtRse
- 11/8/2009 00:10:47
- She is in a class of her own. Queen of funk.
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Lady T Classic
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- By SlimyUnique1
- 8/10/2009 22:39:48
- She is so original and she has her own style of singing. Im sorry but, Im going to say it that cant no one get with Miss Teena. Shes in a class all her own.
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Teena's 30th anniversary!
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- By Aries1983
- 3/31/2009 01:58:48
- Teena Marie is a true diva in every sense of the word. She is an accomplished, Grammy-nominated R&B and soul singer who happens to be white. Teena can also rock the house with funk, disco, and pop. She has epitomized talent and diversity since 1979 with her Motown debut "Wild & Peaceful". She has continued to treat R&B fans to her own brand of soul with a dash of rock and hip hop to this day.
Teena Marie was rightfully honored with a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm & Blues Foundation last year and is releasing a new album in June 2009 called "Congo Square". The new single will feature Faith Evans.
The best Teena Marie songs:
"I'm A Sucker for Love" with Rick James
"You Got The Love"
"365"
"The Ballad of Cradle Rob & Me"
"Square Biz"
"Fire & Desire" with Rick James
"Lovergirl"
"Love Me Down Easy"
"Ooo La La La"
"If I Were A Bell"
"Main Squeeze" feauring Lenny Kravitz
"I'm Still In Love"
"Honey Call"
"Baby Who's Is It"
"Love Is A Gangsta"
Love you, Lady T!
Hope you do a box set soon!
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