
UPDATE: The Associated Press reports that an autopsy on R&B singer Teena Marie revealed no trauma, but it likely will be weeks before toxicology reports return that could shed light on Marie's cause of death.
Los Angeles County Assistant Chief Coroner Ed Winter said her body showed no signs of trauma and no illegal drugs were found in the Pasadena home where she died.
The L.A. County Coroner's Office found diazepam, more commonly known as Valium, which can be used to treat seizures at Marie's home, but friends say she had stopped taking the medicine because of side effects and had resorted to herbal remedies instead.
TMZ reports that Marie was afraid of sleeping by herself because of the seizures and needed to have another person lie next to her. When her body was discovered, she had gone to her room to take an early-afternoon nap by herself. Alia checked on Marie at around 1 p.m. and she seemed fine. But when the young woman checked on her mom again two hours later, she found her unresponsive.
Nicknamed "Lady T" and "the vanilla child," Marie grew up in the predominantly black area of Oakwood on the west side of Los Angeles. Marie began singing at the tender age of 2 and grooved off Motown tunes. It was said that Marie's soulful voice was a God-given gift that she fine-tuned as she perfected her craft.
Marie, whose real name was Mary Christine Brockert, started her career as an actress and even had a stint on the famed TV comedy 'The Beverly Hillbillies." With singing as a constant baseline, she even sang at the wedding of rock and roll great Jerry Lee Lewis at age of 10.
In 1976, Marie got her long-awaited career break, when she was introduced to legendary Detroit producer Hal Davis, who got her an audition with Motown head honcho Barry Gordy. Marie recorded numerous unreleased songs with various producers, but she happened to catch the ear of Rick James, who would go on to be her mentor. Marie became the first white act signed to the Motor City hit-making label.
Marie's debut album, 'Wild and Peaceful,' was her first top 10 R&B hit, which included a duet with James called 'I'm a Sucker for Your Love.' Marie's image did not appear on the album cover or anywhere else on the packaging, so folks assumed that she was black. Record execs erroneously thought that black consumers would not want to buy music that was recorded by a white artist. They continued to keep Marie in hiding, so to speak, until she appeared with James on the TV hit dance show 'Soul Train' in 1979.
Black audiences came to love and accept Marie and revere her vocal pipes. She went on to record such mega Motown hits as 'I Need Your Lovin,' 'Behind the Groove,' 'Ooh La La La' and 'Square Biz.'
James and Marie continued to work together throughout her Motown years. In 1980, the duo produced the killer slow jam of all time, 'Fire and Desire.' The collaboration gave rise to unconfirmed rumors that the two singers were romantically involved. The duo's last appearance together was on the 2004 'BET Awards' show, and later that year James died suddenly of pulmonary and cardiac failure.
Following differences with Motown, Teena moved to Epic Records in 1983. She later sued Motown for restricting her artistic control, resulting in the passing of the Brockert Initiative, or the Teena Marie Law giving artists greater control over their careers.
The year 1994 marked the end of Marie's recording career. She made the decision to devote time to her daughter. Ten years later, in 2004, Teena launched her comeback album 'La Dona,' which went gold, proving Marie was still a musical force to be reckoned with. 'Still in Love' from the album earned Marie a Grammy Award nomination for best R&B vocal performance in 2005.
In 2009, Marie released what would be her final album, 'Congo Square,' on Stax/Concord Records. The artist described the album as "personal and spiritual" and indicated that it was more jazz-influenced than most of her previous work. 'Can't Last a Day,' a duet with Faith Evans, leaked to the Internet in March 2009. The album reached the top 20 on Billboard's Top 200.
Over the last few years, Marie worked the Las Vegas strip as a headliner and made several club and concert appearances. In an interview with the Associated Press last year, Marie admitted to successfully overcoming a battle with prescription drugs.
Lady T, your silky, soulful vocals will certainly be missed. Rest in peace.


Comments: (93)
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By: Marcus on 1/04/2011 12:06PM
Just like there will never be another Michael Jackson, there will never be another Teena Marie. She was truly special and her gift was very unique. When she first came out and people saw what she looked like, nobody could actually believe that she was white. Her songs will live on forever as she will as well in our hearts. The funk of Behind the groove, I need your lovin and square biz will never be matched by anyone. It is still hard to believe but all we can do now is pray for her family. R.I.P. Teena!
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By: ayala on 12/27/2010 2:55PM
OMG,I recieved a call last nite, I thought the information was just another Lie or just another rumor, But No it was just me not wanting to except it. Rest in Peace Beautiful Soul Sista, you have giving us beautiful music, I appreciate you.
BAyala in cali
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By: Justifyed on 12/28/2010 6:21PM
Talk about a legend in her own right, but it wasn't easy for Teena, she fought and earned the right to be called "Lady T", "The Vanilla Child" and all of the other well deserved names we knew her as.
My heart aches; not only because we lost another beautiful spirit, but because her daughter's birthday was the day before.
Teena will be missed, her voice unmistakable, her style, undeniable. Rest in Peace Teena, and thank you for bringing us you!!
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By: Royal-T on 12/27/2010 1:41PM
Teena, you will be missed
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By: KW on 12/27/2010 8:35PM
I got a text last night saying she had passed. I was shocked and texted to my coworker who texted me back saying she did not think it was true. She said to wait for confirmation before I texted to my own brother! Seconds my coworker called me and said she was watching the story on CNN.
Today my heart is heavy by the passing of Lady T. I was fortunate to have
seen her, and the late Rick James, perform live in concert at the Sport Arena
in San Diego, CA back in the day. I was in high school.
IT WAS WILD! Rick sannnggggg, 'Give it to me Baby, You and I, Mary Jane,
and Super Freak.' 'Behind the Groove' the uncompromising Lady T sannnggggggggg 'Portuguese Love' with the utmost 'Fire and Desire' as their finale song! 'Square Biz' ... her distinguished voice was strong, soulful, and even operatic at times! Her talent was natural be it she was singing live, in the studio, or at 6:00AM on KJLH radio.
She will be missed. May the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, guard the hearts and minds of her family, true friends, and millions of fans during this time of need.
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By: Renee' on 12/27/2010 2:00PM
A woman whose talent did not include profanity, or open legs for the camera. Her vocal skills and artistry will be sorely missed.
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By: Henry Harden Jr. on 12/27/2010 2:11PM
She gave so much of herself from writing to recording them and preforming and then there is touring. I saw her in the mid 90's at "The Varsity" and I could see that she was a great mother cause her daughter "Rose" whom she introduced was there. It was wonderful to see this. I love all you music but "Out on a Limb" is one of my personal favorite but she has so many that I love! You've touched so many with your music. God bless you! R.I.P. Teena Marie
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By: MS PEGGY on 12/27/2010 2:18PM
So young! Its admirable that she was successful in the entertainment world yet kept her head on straight and raised her daughter as a single, working mom (I assume). May she R.I.P.
I remember her performing with Rick James and erroneously assumed that she was a wild thang or a "Super Freak", but she was naturally gifted and talented and didn't dress provocatively onstage.
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By: Bayala on 12/27/2010 3:17PM
This is a real sad day for myself as well as my Sista Maria Robles Teena is her Soul everyday at work the first thing Maria does is put on the internet station and listen to Teena,she says 'oh thats my girl '
In behalf of Maria Robles from Compton ca RIP Teena
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By: Mimi on 12/27/2010 2:24PM
I HAVE SO MANY FAVORITE SONGS BY TEENA MARIE SUCH AS:
1. DEJA VU
2. I GONNA HAVE MY CAKE (AND EAT IT TOO)
3. YES INDEED
4. YOU MAKE LOVE LIKE SPRING TIME
5. TUNE IN TOMORROW
7. ALADDIN'S LAMP
8. IF I WERE A BELL
9. BEHIND THE GROOVE
10.CASANOVA BROWN
11.IRON'S IN THE FIRE
12.SQUARE BIZ
13.YOUNG LOVE
14.OUT ON A LIMB
15.FIRE AND DESIRE (WITH RICK JAMES)
16.HAPPY (WITH RICK JAMES)
17.WHERE'S CALIFORNIA
18.LOVERGIRL
19.PORTUGUESE LOVE
20.I CAN'T LOVE ANYMORE
21.365
22.THE BALLAD OF CRADLE ROB AND ME (WITH THE TEMPTATIONS IN THE BACKGROUND)
23.IT MUST BE MAGIC
24.I'M STILL LOVING YOU
25.REVOLUTION
I KNOW THERE ARE MORE BUT THIS IS A LIST OF MY FAVORITE TEENA MARIE SONGS.
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT REAL MUSIC IS: GO TO YOU TUBE AND TYPE IN TEENA MARIE AND PULL UP ONE OF THE SONG'S FROM THE ABOVE LIST.
TEENA'S MUSIC IS CLASSIC AND WILL LIVE ON FOREVER.
R.I.P. TEENA YOUR MUSIC HAS BEEN A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE SO.
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