Unfortunately, DLT90s returns on a sad note. Yesterday, Mary Christine Brockert, better known as Teena Marie, passed on at the age of 54, after falling asleep on Christmas night and being found by her daughter Alia Rose the following morning.
Growing up, my mother was always a fan of Teena’s music, so I’d heard quite a bit of it during the ’80s. I continued to hear it throughout the ’90s, although she’d largely stepped away from putting out new music, but the local “oldies” station Magic 95.9 always played her classics. Of course, she also had her work sampled and interpolated by such artists as The Fugees and The Firm among others, so her presence was still existent through that.
But only in recent years did I fully acquire an appreciation of her career and legacy as the first “White girl with soul” singer, while rediscovering some of her music around 2005. Her hits like “Square Biz” and “Ooh La La La” were already a given, but there were some of her lesser-recognized tracks like “Midnight Magnet” and “Shangri-La”, and some I’d forgotten about like “If I Were A Bell” that also resonated. I recently got further interested upon seeing an episode of TVOne‘s Unsung that told the story of her life and career.
Of course, everyone always says “you never know when it’s your time”, and Teena’s death is a prime example. She was on Twitter just two days ago, wishing her daughter a happy 19th birthday and calling her the best gift she ever got on Christmas. As a woman that not only wrote and produced her own music, she also set precedents in the industry’s treatment of artists with “The Brockert Initiative” (which prevents record labels from holding artists under contract without releasing new material by them). As a consummate artist, she continued recording and performing up to her last day, which is not only the mark of a true talent, but that of a legend.
R.I.P. Lady T…
“Fire & Desire” (with Rick James) (1981)
(ALSO: check out Brandelah’s dedication to Teena Marie on MissJia.com)
-D!
This made me so sad, I am a huge fan of hers and have been for many years. It does give me solace that she kept doing what she loved to the very end… that’s how it should be
Danj, she was actually working on a new album, it was set to release in either March or April…I’m hoping it can be released sooner. Needless to say, I’m anxious to hear it.
So heartbroken I can’t fully describe it. Thank you for this.
I’ve always been a fan. She sang soulful music w/o ever trying “act” black. She was as talented and authentic an artist as one could ever hope to meet. She was so dope, and will be missed. RIP Lady T.
P.S. “Portuguese Love” was my favorite joint.
I was heartbroken when I heard the news of Teena Marie’s passing. She was one of the most soulful singers that I have ever heard, regardless of race. Her talents will be missed.
RIP Lady T.
I still cant believe that she is gone. What a wonderful gift she was. Teena crossed all musical barriers with her music. She was a “white” woman who did “black” music, but to her she was doing what her soul wanted her to do. It was natural to her. Her music wasnt black or white, it was just music. No one will ever be able to replace her. She was a rare spirit. God only made one Teena and she will be greatly missed.
Legendary artist and classy lady!! She will truely be missed.