Maximum R&B Activity: Five Appearances From Live TV That Demonstrate Why We're Still In Love With Teena Marie
National TV Debut on Soul Train With Rick James:
Due to Motown's decision to not put her picture in the album artwork on the debut Wild and Peaceful, many didn't know what Teena looked like until the cover of her second album Lady T. But this is the first time she really gets to sing and strut her stuff on the national stage.
She elects to share that stage with her lifelong friend, onetime love interest, singer-songwriter/producer/mentor the one and only Rick James.
The electricity of these two’s chemistry is apparent immediately. Teena would go on to be one of the more masterful writers in the R&B/Soul genre over the next 30 years from here. But none of it would have been possible or at least not in any way the same were it not for the apprenticeship opportunities she was afforded under the wing of Rick James.
Flashback, Who’s That? Entre Vous, Lady Tee:
Released in 1981 this is the third record ever that includes a female rapping, behind only “That’s The Joint” featuring the legendary Sha-Rock of the Funky 4 + 1 and Blondie’s “Rapture”. Blondie’s Deborah Harry (bless her heart) was stepping on the rhythm in a fashion not befitting Kurtis Blow. Teena Marie is not Sha-Rock. Teena is not a rapper. Yet the difference between who sounds more natural on the mic between here and Debbie is striking. Not to mention the difference in content, listen to Vanilla Chile name-check William Shakespeare, Nikki Giovanni and Maya Angelou.
Debbie Harry was rapping about a “man from Mars” who was not David Bowie. Ziggy did not eat cars, bars nor guitars.
Teena is not from Mars, Teena is from Venice. From a section of the Oceanside LA city then-known as “Venice Harlem”. A hometown that loves her enough to put this mural up on Pacific Avenue, which is the last artery before the famed Venice strip that runs along the Pacific Ocean.
The photo of this mural I took with my phone a few months ago. While the mural was painted by my friend Jonas Never, a great artist gradually redecorating the entire Westside of Los Angeles in his images.
“Square Biz” also has an argument for being the first West Coast rap record, released the same year as Disco Daddy & Captain Rapp’s “The Gigolo Groove”. Stick to “Square Biz”.
The first white artist signed to Motown in the history of the label paying tribute to her idol, possibly the most underrated songwriter in the history of popular music, Smokey Robinson. That’s Teena’s beautiful daughter Alia Rose at the 2:12 mark mouthing the words to Smokey’s classic “Oo Baby, Baby” caught right at the “one day, I’m gonna hold you” line like she grew up in a house where her mother did just that while raising her on classic soul music. As Teena and Smokey sing, I’m gonna cry.
Return Of The “G” on Showtime at the Apollo:
Let’s set the scene. By 2004, Teena Marie had been on a 14-year-sabbatical from public life, taking the time off to raise the daughter you saw in the last clip. Poised for a return the first white artist signed to Motown then became the first signed to Cash Money Records. This is performing her brand new single from an album yet to be released in her first major public appearance since returning to the scene. The level of swagger on display as Lady T directs Apollo Theater crowd traffic in the fedora & fur immeasurable. The love in the crowd palpable.
Teena Pays Tribute to Rick at The First BET Awards Following His Passing:
There’s nothing I can say here that Teena doesn’t say better while up at the podium barely holding it together.
You’re Both Missed.
Rest In Peacefulness.
