'Superfreak' singer Rick James dies in his home
This year has not been kind to some of our older state persons in R&B. Recently we lost Syretta Wright, John Whitehead (of McFadden and Whitehead fame), Ray Charles and although its hard to believe it's apparently true, now R&B singer and funkster Rick James.
Best known for hits like 'Super Freak' 'Mary Jane' 'The Glow' 'Fire and Desire' (featuring Teena Marie), You and I (featuring his famed alter ego the Mary Jane Girls) and 'Give it to Me, baby' Rick died this past Friday (August 6th) of natural causes apparently, according to sources. He was 56.
He died in his sleep sometime during the morning of that day. He was found in his bed by his personal assistant and was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived at 9:20am that morning. Officer Esther Reyes, a Police Department spokeswoman said: "He died apparently of natural causes. We learned of his death after responding to a radio call."
Rick got his start in the 60s with none other than Neil Young playing guitar in a band called the Mynah Birds. During the mid 70s to the late 80s James truly came to prominence. He signed with Motown imprint Gordy Records and introduced the world to a new form of funk music that was highlighted by his guitar playing. He worked with several of the Motown label stable artists including Ozone, Teena Marie and introduced us to The Stone City Band and the Mary Jane Girls (bands that he assembled). Many say he and another pioneer of that time Prince were true rivals in the genre as both were constantly testing each other for supremacy.
Fame came quickly for him and with it came the bad side (the drugs, the drinking and the women) he was larger than life with hit after hit making the top 20 on the Billboard charts. But in the 90s his career began to slide as he became embroiled in legal problems and health troubles and in 1993 he was convicted of assaulting two women. The first attack occurred in 1991 when he restrained and burned a young woman with a hot pipe during a cocaine binge at his house in West Hollywood. He was free on bail when the second assault occurred in 1992 in James' hotel room.
He was sentenced to more than two years in state prison. In 1997, he released a new album, but a year later he suffered a stroke while performing at Denver's Mammoth Events Center, derailing a comeback tour. In 1998 he suffered a stroke and also underwent hip replacement surgery. An autopsy Saturday failed to determine the cause of death. The singer was a diabetic and also had a pacemaker. He and dear friend (and reportedly old fling) and collaborator Teena Marie recently teamed up for another duet on her new album 'La Dona' called 'I Got You'.
His three children — daughter Ty and sons Rick Jr. and Tazman — said Friday through a spokeswoman that they believe their father died of heart failure. Officials are awaiting results of a toxicology test.
- - Source: spotlightonR&B.com
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Isley Brother Ronald suffers a minor stroke
Ronald Isley, the lead singer of the legendary Isley Brothers,
suffered a minor stroke last week, but said that he's fine and hopes to resume performing as soon as possible, a spokeswoman for his record label states.
The 63 year old Isley felt unwell while walking along a street in Central London and checked himself into a local hospital for a few days. He has since returned to his home in St. Louis, MO said the spokeswoman at Def Soul Classics.
She said his speech did not appear to be affected, and he had assured the label that he would be fine and wanted to get back on the road quickly. Ronald Isley founded the Isley Brothers with older siblings Rudolph and O'Kelly in the 1950s, and the group made it big in the ensuing decades with such soul classics as 'Twist and Shout' and 'This Old Heart of Mine'.
The band's most recent album, 'Body Kiss', topped the U.S. pop charts last year, and Ronald recently collaborated with composer famed songwriter/composer Burt Bacharach on an album featuring reworked versions of Bacharach-David penned tracks like 'Alfie' and 'Close to You'.
- Source: VH1.com
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Maxwell putting finishing touches on new album
R&B crooner Maxwell has been relatively quiet for the three years. The singer's last set the platinum selling 'Now' was released in 2001 but according to his friend and frequent collaborator, producer Stuart Matthewman, he is currently putting the finishing touches on his new yet-to-be-titled album.
Where has the noticeably absentee been then well as Matthewman explained Maxwell simply just 'needed a break': 'But yeah no, he's doing his thing, Maxwell. He's writing. He just needed a break. He needed to, like Sade, I guess have something to write about, you know. He's going through changes and stuff, so'. Matthewman added: 'He nearly had his record finish then he was making some changes. We've kinda of not really worked much yet so we'll probably get to do a couple of tracks eventually, hopefully'.
Maxwell's fourth album is tentatively scheduled for release in November according to his label, Columbia Records.
- Source: billboard.com
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Well she's always been let's say a little eccentric in the past where her decisions were concerned and this latest episode is no exception. La Toya Jackson is following the likes of Prince and more recently Mary J Blige by changing her name.
The fifth eldest Jackson sibling is hoping that a name change to just simply Toy will help her get a clean start with her new record and rid any public fascination of any previous image that may be held where her persona is concerned.
'It feels good to be back', Toy told Billboard about her new single, 'Just Wanna Dance' (JaTail Records), which has reached No. 14 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart this week. 'With this single, I wanted people to judge the song on its own merit. People weren't giving me the chance to do my thing, which is to sing, said LaToya (oops sorry... um 'Toy'). So, I altered my name for this single to see what would happen'.'Just Wanna Dance' is the first single from the 17-track 2 disc set called 'Startin' Over', due sometime in the fall. The set features a mix of dance, pop and R&B/hip-hop styles that she hopes club DJs and radio PDs will embrace.
I've called many of the DJs to let them know about Toy's background, she told the magazine. One phone call at a time, I am letting them know all about Toy. While some of them knew that Toy was me, others were surprised. The overall response has been rewarding and encouraging.
- Source: EURweb.com