I just heard tonight that Teena Lady Tee Marie past away last night and the age of 54 years old. I'm in my late 30's but I can remember a time when I visited my grandparents in Springfield, Missouri back in the early 80's, my relatives would play Teena Marie songs like Lovergirl and my all-time favor square biz. Along with Rick James the music was the anthem of the streets or rather the soundtrack.
Together their style of funk ushered in the death of disco & the precursor to hip-hop no small achievement.
It did not know at the time when I first heard here voice that she was a white lady because of her beautiful soulful voice that I was used to hearing from black female singers like Chaka Khan, Denise Williams and Patty LaBelle.I also didn't know she was also instrumental in the forging of industry law that against Motown that led to more protection for artist's under music label contracts. In fact the law["The Brockert Initiative"] is named for her. She had just release her latest album entitle " Congo Square" and continued to tour until shortly before her sudden death. Lady Tee thank you for some of your great music that you but forth, you'll be missed.