LADY T

KEEP IT OLDSKOOL ARTIST PROFILE 



There is/was no other Caucasian artist male or female that was universally "adopted" by the R&B and Soul crowd and radio stations. Sure there are some that would you would hear on the soul stations (Hall and Oats, Michael Mcdonald etc) But none of them had the longevity and love that Lady T enjoyed for her whole career. Keep It Oldskool salutes TEENA MARIE.


Teena Marie spent her childhood in Mission Hills, California. She took to singing at the early age of 2. By the age of 10 she had appeared in a Beverly Hillbillies episode and sang at Jerry Lewis's sons wedding. Signed to Motown in 1979 she sat in limbo for while as she recorded material that was never released or shelved. It wasn't until lablemate Rick James heard her sing and decided to switch from working with Diana Ross to Lady T.  This would start a collaboration/relationship/friendship that would last many years. Teena Marie's first album featured no picture of her and radio stations assumed  that she Teena was a "sista" It wasn't until her performance on Soul Train in 1979 (becoming the first female Caucasian guest) did everyone realize that Teena was in fact Caucasian.

From her first Top Ten Hit " I'm a Sucker for your Love" on Teena Marie personified SOUL Teena made a conscious effort NOT to try to cross over into the Pop area. She could have done so and made a lot more money and although there was a few "rock" missteps I think her African American buying public understood and appreciated that no matter what Lady T "kept it real". By her 3rd album Irons in the Fire she was writing and producing her own music. 1981's It Must Be Magic was a GOLD album (500,000 sold) which included songs "Square Biz" and "Portuguese Love" with the former reaching #3 on the Billboard R&B charts 

Like most artist Teena Marie experienced label problems. Locked in a fight with her label (Motown) Teena sued and eventually won her release from Motown and signed with Columbia Records. This period saw songs like "Casanova Brown", "Lovergirl" and "Ooo La La". By the 90s with music having drastically changed with Hip Hop becoming the music of the youth Teena continued to create and release music.

In 2004Teena Marie signed to Cash Money Records and had another GOLD selling album La Dona Teena was a fixture at all of the shows and festivals performing from her catalog of classic hits. Tragically on December 26th 2010 we lost Teena Marie well before her time. She was only 54 when she passed. This author did go to one of her last performances in Philly when she performed at the Robin Hood Dell East. There have been many Caucasian acts that have garnered acclaim and fans with African Americans BUT no one comes close to the level of love that Teena Marie received and still receives. KEEP IT OLDSKOOL REMEMBERS  TEENA MARIE 

Chuck Da Original Oldhead