UB Black Music Month Spotlight: Teena Marie + Final UB Interview

Today marks the first day of Black Music Month, UB‘s favorite month of the year! We have some great features and interview pieces coming this month, so stay tuned!

UB starts our month long celebration of Black Music, with one of the best to ever write a soulful lyric and sing a note Teena Marie!

Before her untimely death at the age of 54 on the day after Christmas 2010, Teena Marie, known as the Ivory Queen of Soul or simply Lady Tee was one of the only white artists ever signed to Motown Records, wrote, produced, arranged and sang on 14 albums that have sold 2.5 million copies.

L. A. native Teena Marie a.k.a. “Lady Tee”, was a three-time Grammy nominated artist, who first began her flourishing career at the age of eight with an appearance on the classic TV sitcom, “The Beverly Hillbillies.”

Teena enjoyed phenomenal success and established herself as a prolific songwriter, lyricist, poet, actress, musician and producer. A legendary balladeer, Lady Tee recorded 14 albums and performed as a guest on over a dozen albums and soundtracks. An exceptional creative genius, her breathtaking performances captivated her loyal audiences throughout the world.

Teena Marie signed to Motown in 1976 when she was just 20 years old, but didn’t record her first album, co-produced by Rick James, until 1979. What fans had heard of but never had confirmed, is that Teena recorded at Motown from April 1976 – May 1977, nearly two years before James “discovered” her. Those rare and precious early recordings, was later approved for release by Teena for a 2-CD set entitled “First Class Love: Rare Tee.”

Teena Marie spent three hitless years on the Motown label before she was “rediscovered” by Rick James. “I was walking around the Motown offices when I heard this girl singing her ass off,” Rick later recalled. “I walked in and there was this little, munchkin, white girl. I said, ‘Wow, you’re really great. Are you on Motown?” Rick and Teena created fireworks-in and out of the studio. Rick produced her first album, the critically acclaimed “Wild and Peaceful,” in 1979.

The albums packaging did not include an image of Teena Marie. It was so R&B buyers would not dismiss her on discovering that she was white, afraid that people may not buy the record if they knew she was white.

The albums first single “I’m a Sucker for Your Love” reached #8 on the R&B charts and her mentor Rick James appeared on the single.

Teena released four albums for Motown between 1978-1981 (Wild and Peaceful (1979), Lady T (1980), Irons in the Fire (1980) and It Must Be Magic (1981). Lady T, her second Motown album, featured the massive funk hit “Behind The Groove” and became a top 20 R&B success. Though James produced her first album, Richard Rudolph (Minnie Riperton) co-produced her second. With “Now That I Have You,” “Aladdin’s Lamp” and “Behind The Groove” (#21 R&B in the U.S. and a Top 10 disco smash in the U.K.) —Teena would be the major writer and sole producer of her remaining albums.

“[Black Music] has been my whole life. I remember being told a story about taking me to church when I was two years old attending a Catholic church and the priest was chanting in Latin (chants in Latin). I jumped up and sang “Day….Daaaay O! Daylight come and me want to go home!” That’s pretty amazing for a two year old singing about a black man tallying up some bananas in the islands.

To me, that just says the chant came from somewhere else; you know what I’m saying? I’m guessing it was just the beginning to my destiny. I really appreciate the fact all these years black people as well as black radio has embraced me the way they have. You know they gave me a ghetto pass! I thought that was so funny to me, I said this is so cool! Teena Marie has a lifetime ghetto pass! (laughs)”

(Teena Marie Shared with UB in 2006 for Black Music Month)

Teena Marie spelled it out and told you twice three minutes into her third Motown album, “Irons In The Fire.” On its front cover, Teena, enrobed in a halo of long wavy hair, a luxurious red satin quilt and an inviting fireside glow, was captured in a setting of classy sensuality that had rarely been broached since Herb Alpert’s “Whipped Cream And Other Delights.”

“Irons In The Fire,” was her first self-production, the album was a top 10 Urban and top 40 Pop smash led by the hit “I Need Your Lovin’,” as well as key album tracks, from the hard-hitting “First Class Love” to the jazzy “You Make Love Like Springtime.”

Inclusive, embracing truth-telling of this kind helped forge an immediate family-close bond between the artist and her fans: “Irons In The Fire,” following on just six months after “Lady T” in 1980, sold so quickly that it set Teena’s new career chart peaks on both the overall national pop chart and the R&B album chart. Teena Marie now was not just an up-and-comer, but one of the prime and defining young voices of R&B as her prolific songwriting and production gifts came to fruition in her first fully self-written and self-produced album.

The lush and powerful “I Need Your Lovin’” was an instant signature song, and the balance of the album confirmed Teena’s protean growth from Rick James’ impressive hand-picked protégée to an all-around artist capable of delivering a diverse, impeccably-crafted album. “Chains” and “First Class Love,” with their hard-driving band grooves and electronics, more than proved the musical substance of Teena’s spare, guitar-led acoustic demo recordings from years previously, and justified fans counting her among such inner-circle funkateers as Bootsy Collins and Bernie Worrell.

Add to Rick, Teena and the Stone City Band in July 1981 an arena full of feverish Long Beach, CA fans, all of them hyped up on Rick’s masterwork, “Street Songs,” Teena’s grand declaration of independence, and their astounding duet, “Fire And Desire,” and you have the definition of high-voltage funk’n’roll excitement, and leaving it all on stage. < Teena would go Gold with her next release, 1981’s Grammy-nominated “It Must Be Magic,” which included the Top 5 R&B “Square Biz,” the jazzy “Portuguese Love” and the Top 30 R&B title track. “Square Biz” expressed her deep feelings for Motown‘s musical heritage, with allusions to Smokey Robinson and the Marvelettes, and vocal backup by The Temptations.

That was Teena‘s last album on Motown. She sued the company in a landmark court case in 1982 for nonpayment of royalties. The lawsuit, and countersuit from Motown, took about 2 years and cost Teena nearly $1 million in legal fees. Teena did not want to record for them anymore due to her bad recording contract (negotiated while she was still a minor, and signed without being allowed benefit of legal counsel) and not getting paid; Motown claimed she owed them one more album. But success was Teena‘s when Motown backed down and settled with her out of court.

Teena then signed with Epic Records. Her first release for the label was 1983’s “Robbery.”

After that lawsuit, Motown legally blocked Teena and Rick James from recording together. It wouldn’t be until Teena‘s 1988 Epic release “Naked to the World” that Rick and Teena would release any more collaborations. They included the ballad “Once and Future Dream” and the up-tempo “Call Me (I Got Yo Number).”

Teena‘s next album 1984’s Platinum “Starchild” became the highest-selling album of her career. The single “Lovergirl” from that album to this date has been Teena‘s biggest mainstream hit reaching #4. “My Dear Mr. Gaye” was a single on the album she recorded as a tribute to Marvin Gaye who had been shot by his father earlier that year.

Teena Maria discovered the R&B group Q.T. Hush, who were a funk oriented band from Detroit consisting of London Carmichael (keyboards/vocals), Nikki Slikk (guitar/vocals), Wyman Brown (keyboards/synths), Allen McGrier (bass/drums) and Cocoa La Boy (percussion).

They were protégés of Teena Marie who produced their one album for Epic Records in 1985 and also engaged them as her touring band.

In 1985, Q.T. Rush released their only self-titled album. Only two singles were released from the album “Turn It Up” and “It Ain’t You Babe.”

In 1986 Teena Marie released “Emerald City“, which is where Teena stepped away from her “blue-eyed soul” label for a minute and recorded somewhat of an Jazz/Rock album. “Lips to Find You” and “Love Me Down Easy” were the two singles released from that album.

“Naked to the World” released in 1988 would be the album that featured Teena‘s very first and only #1 R&B single “Ooo La La La.” Rick James appears on “Call Me (I Got Yo Number)” and “The Once and Future Dream.”

“Ivory” released in 1990 was Teena‘s last album for Epic Records and featured the singles “If I Were a Bell,” “Here’s Looking at You” and “Since Day One,” all of them were hits.

“I’ve always been a rhythm and blues artist,” stated Teena. “I’ve only had limited pop success. “Lovergirl” was the biggest pop record I ever had. But I’m very respected by black radio and black people. I like that because this is the music that I love and to me sometimes it’s a greater thing to have respect from your peers and your audience than to have a whole lot of money but not be as respected.”

Teena would release her next album on her own independent label Sarai, entitled “Passion Play.” The album included the single “Wild Horses. While the album featured to guest, Lenny Kravitz on “Main Squeeze” and rapper Yo-Yo on “Sweet on You.”

“La Doña” was the eleventh album by Teena Marie, which was released in 2004 on Ca$h Money. This album brought Lady Tee back in the lime-light and introduced her music to a whole new breed of fans. The lead-off single “I’m Still in Love” (which sampled Al Green’s 1972 track “I’m Still in Love with You”) was nominated for a Grammy award in 2005 in the category Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Rick James was featured on “I Got You” which turned out to be the last recording he recorded before his death. Other guests included Gerald Levert on “A Rose by Any Other Name,” Common on “Revelations 3:8 Introduction,” Birdman on “Off the Chain,” MC Lyte on “The Mackin’ Game” and Teena’s daughter, Alia Rose made her debut on “High Yellow Girl.” The album reached #6 on the Billboard 200, her highest ever on that chart, while reaching #3 on the R&B albums chart. The album went Gold.

On “Sapphire” her second release for Ca$h Money released in 2006, Teena Marie delivered the goods expected by her loyal fan base. It’s the perfect blend of sultry ballads, uptempo funk jams and down right “feel good” music. The album features collaborations with R&B legend Smokey Robinson on “God Has Created,” west coast rapper Kurupt on “Baby Whose Is It.” “You Blow Me Away” is a single Teena recorded for the set to pay tribute to Rick James, and another song “Resilient (Sapphire)” is dedicated to the victims and survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

Teena‘s last album before her death was 2009‘s “Congo Square.” Released on Stax/Concord, the album featured guest appearances by MC Lyte, George Duke, Shirley Murdock, Howard Hewett, Alia Rose and Faith Evans on the lead single “Can’t Last a Day.” The album reached #4 on the R&B albums chart.

Her final album “Beautiful,” was recorded at her Pasadena home studio and finished except for final mixes, “Beautiful” was seen through to its conclusion by Teena’s then 20-year-old daughter Alia Rose. Alia who sings on three of the tracks (“Rare Breed” and “Sweet Tooth,” both of which she co-wrote—along with “Beautiful”—as well as a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Give Me Your Love”). The lead single was a UB First Listen, “Luv Letter,” a homage to Tee’s Motown roots, with nods to Stevie Wonder’s “Signed, Sealed, Delivered I’m Yours,” and a dedication to Alia’s father, who just happened to be a postman, like in the Marvelettes’ song of the same name.

Teena Marie amassed an impressive string of hits throughout her career including 10 self-produced gold and platinum LP’s in addition to several hit singles. Besides her famous collaborations with the legendary Rick James, she recorded with a wide variety of artists ranging from Stanley Clark to Lenny Kravitz, and shared the stage with such legendary greats as Nancy Wilson and Sarah Vaughn.

Teena helped the establishment of the “Teena Marie Law,” which was legislated to protect the rights of recording artists.

A pioneer for women, Lady Tee was that rare soul diva who writes, produced and arranged much of her material, and her creative influence has been acknowledged with tributes by The Fugees (“Fu-Gee-La”) and Soul II Soul (their collaboration “Since Day One”). When she performed in early 2000 at the Los Angeles House of Blues, the sold-out crowd was filled with hip-hop heads as well as fans of Old School R&B.

UB’s 2006 Black Music Month Interview with Teena Marie!
Our interview with with Teena Marie took place May 2006, 9 months after the shocking loss of her friend and mentor Rick James. Teena was promoting her then new album, “Sapphire.” She opened up about how Rick James inspired her songs, being given a lifetime ghetto pass, what black music means to her, her daughter (Alia Rose) and working with legendary Motown artist Smokey Robinson.

UrbanBridgez.com: Tell your fans about Sapphire and what you want them to get out of the project.
Teena Marie: I think they’re really going to be able to feel the Rick [James] and Teena influence; Um, it felt like he was writing some of the songs with me; I was really in a lot of pain when he passed and I’m just so thankful that I have that outlet and God gave that gift to go into myself and write my way out of my pain. It helped a lot and there were a lot of times I felt like he [Rick] was right there beside me writing with me and I think the fans will be able to hear of lot of that in some of the songs.

UrbanBridgez.com: What was the hardest part recording Sapphire?
Teena Marie: Probably that; losing him and just having to keep on pressing on and just stay true to myself as an artist. Yeah, I would think that would be it; just keep going and going not feeding into the pain and how I was feeling about him being gone.

UrbanBridgez.com: You worked with a lot of different artists for this album, how did you choose the collaborations?
Teena Marie: Well I chose Smokey [Robinson] because he’s my idol. I grew up listening to him and I pan my songwriting career after him. I studied his songs and he’s such a great love poet that it’s what I really wanted to do with my music as well. I wanted to touch people and make them feel love and to me Smokey was just that for me. We’ve known each other for years and this was the first time we actually got to go in the studio together and work, it was amazing! I was a little intimidated because I was producing the record but he’s just so wonderful, so gracious, and such a brilliant man. I played him the song one time and he smiled; I was like you want me to play it again, you want me to play it on the guitar, he was like “no I got it”. He did and it was amazing; because of his influence in my career I wonder why we didn’t sing together a long time ago because our voices really compliment each other. Have you heard the track yet?

UrbanBridgez.com: Gosh, that sounds so amazin’.
Teena Marie: Have you heard the track yet?

UrbanBridgez.com: I have heard the song with Smokey Robinson and my dad at first listen was overjoyed with it.
Teena Marie: So you did hear it, oh good! Well that’s awesome but I guess you can see what I’m saying?

UrbanBridgez.com: Oh yes!
Teena Marie: First we did Cruise Control and then we did What God Has Created; he was getting ready to leave and I was like “no, no, no, you can’t leave yet!” There’s a little piece attached to this at the beginning of the album, it’s like a prayer and I told him he had to hear it. When he heard it, he looked up at me and grinned. He was like “yeah, this is me right here!” So it thrilled me and it was really nice. I also got to work with Kurupt from the Dogg Pound, who’s a really good friend of mine. I have younger people around me who call me “Mama Teena” so um I called him up and asked him to come over and he did right away. I actually wrote the rap myself and he liked it so much and he said he didn’t want to change it. What I did was I sung while he spoke it. My daughter sang with me on the last cut on the album Resilient (Sapphire) that was written for Hurricane Katrina and that was wonderful. It felt so good having the ability to sing in harmony with my daughter, know what I’m saying?

UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah, she sounds so beautiful.
Teena Marie: Whether or not she chooses to do this as a career it doesn’t even matter to me it’s just being able to go in the studio to sing harmony with your child it’s really an amazing joy that I can’t even explain. She did most of the backgrounds with me on the entire album, so that’s pretty awesome because I have a little mini me. When we sing parts together you really can’t tell us apart kind of like how emotions were. When you hear that family harmony it’s just a blend that you can’t really get anywhere else. I have that with my best friend Mickey, who sounds like my sister when we sing together. So it’s wonderful and my little sister Jill also. I also have Lady Levi, who’s done a lot of stuff with Dr. Dre did the reggae cut with me, Simmer Down. She always brings a real exciting thing to what we do. It’s like a family thing.

UrbanBridgez.com: As a songwriter, what inspires you to write? Does something have to happen to you to be in the mood to write a song, how do you normally do it?
Teena Marie: Songs are sent to me, you know. Sometimes there are no songs at all and when that happens I don’t try to force it. Sometimes a wave of inspiration just comes through and I write for a week or two. Then it goes away, when it goes I just let it go. I used to force it when I was younger but then I came to realize early on that it was divine. So I just wait until the time comes.

UrbanBridgez.com: Now if you could do another duet on your next album per se, would you work with a female great or someone from the younger generation?

Teena Marie: I would love to. I tried to put something together on the last record. A demo singer Dee O’Neal came in and she sang the song so tough that it was like I’m leaving her on here. She really, really brought it on the song from the last album called, I Love Him Too. But yeah, there are a few people I wouldn’t mind working with. Mary and I have talked about doing some stuff together before; Faith Evans, who just has a beautiful beautiful voice and you know… I love Alicia Keys and Keyshia Cole, but I don’t know how we would sound together because her voice is rawer than mine.
UrbanBridgez.com: Yeah, and I think the music industry, especially the R&B ladies, I think a lot of them need to have a sense of togetherness. Saying “Hey, I got your back.”
Teena Marie: Oh I do too. I agree with you!

UrbanBridgez.com: Because it’s so much pitting artist against each other and I’m like for what, there’s room for everybody.
Teena Marie: It’s so true and I’ve always said that. We should be more supportive of each other.

UrbanBridgez.com: So what’s the next single going to be on Sapphire?
Teena Marie: I don’t know because the record just came out last week (May 9th); but it looks like “Ooh Wee” still has some longevity going on and that’s what’s great about AC radio because tracks last longer than mainstream. I’m not sure but I think radio might choose the next one, the record is out now. We’ll probably see or hear what people think, but so far I’ve been hearing a lot about Cruise Control. I wouldn’t mind having a record with my guy [Smokey] that I love so much.

UrbanBridgez.com: Do you have a favorite song by a popular artist out now?
Teena Marie: Um, my favorite song right now probably is Love, by Keyshia Cole. Yeah, that’s probably my favorite song. The other one is an up-tempo by Christina Milian.

UrbanBridgez.com: Say I?
Teena Marie: Yeah, Say I.

UrbanBridgez.com: Since June is Black Music Month, what has Soul and R&B music meant to you throughout your career?
Teena Marie: It’s been my whole life. I remember being told a story about taking me to church when I was two years old attending a Catholic church and the priest was chanting in Latin (chants in Latin). I jumped up and sang “Day….Daaaay O! Daylight come and me want to go home!” That’s pretty amazing for a two year old singing about a black man tallying up some bananas in the islands. To me, that just says the chant came from somewhere else; you know what I’m saying? I’m guessing it was just the beginning to my destiny. I really appreciate the fact all these years black people as well as black radio has embraced me the way they have. You know they gave me a ghetto pass! I thought that was so funny to me, I said this is so cool! Teena Marie has a lifetime ghetto pass! (laughs)

UrbanBridgez.com: Now one artist who I think who would probably love to work with you is Christina Aguilera, do you listen to any of her material?
Teena Marie: I love Christina Aguilera, yeah I do. I love Mariah Carey, all the great singers out there. I have to walk outside because they’re working on my house; let me walk to the next room. Can you hear me now, Can you hear me now. Lord I sound like Alicia [Keys] (laughs).

UrbanBridgez.com: So will you be doing any tours this summer?
Teena Marie: I’m going out the end of this month; my first show is on the Tom Joyner cruise.

UrbanBridgez.com: Tom Joyner cruise…oooh!
Teena Marie: Yeah, in the islands. After that I’ll be touring the states.

UrbanBridgez.com: So what’s going to be up for you over the next year?
Teena Marie: I’m actually writing already; I’ve been working on a jazz album and I’ve been working on inspirational music. So between that and the touring I’m getting ready to do, I’ll be raising my daughter which is really an ongoing job; raising a 14-year-old that’s enough to keep me busy for a while!

UrbanBridgez.com: Say if your daughter went to the music industry, would there be any advice you’d give her?
Teena Marie: It’s funny, she’s really smart. When she sang on my record she was 13 and she’s 14 now; she really doesn’t want to come out with a record for another couple of years. So she’s kind of smart and all she wants to be is a normal kid, you know? She’s boy crazy and she’s a good kid but she’s really smart and I’ll be right beside her every step of the way.

UrbanBridgez.com: I know you’re a very busy woman and I didn’t want to keep you too long, do you have any last words for your fans?
Teena Marie: I’m just really thankful and grateful that after …let’s see what this 20, 27 years in the music business after I came out with my first album in ’79 that people still love me and it’s such a wonderful thing to be doing something that you love. Thanks to my daughter and friends, music has been my greatest joy. So I’m just appreciative that people still love me.

UrbanBridgez.com: That’s very nice. I think artists need to hear the word “Thank You” instead of expecting so much out of them.
Teena Marie: Oh, I’m very thankful. It’s a blessing everyday.

UrbanBridgez.com: Thank you Ms. Teena for talking to UrbanBridgez.com we all love you and appreciate everything you do.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with The Incredible Teena Marie!