A timeless R&B classic
By Jamesetta M Walker | The Virginian-Pilot
Teena Marie can hold onto clothes for a long time So long that the singer’s 18-year-old daughter this week did a photo shoot in the dress her mother wore on the cover of her pivotal 1981 album, “It Must Be Magic”
“Rick brought me that dress, and I saved it all these years,” Teena Marie said by phone Thursday afternoon from her home in Pasadena, Calif
The Rick she refers to is the indomitable Rick James, her late musical mentor, one-time love interest and a pioneer of punk-funk music
Her daughter, Rose Le Beau, is picking up the musical torch and completing a solo project Teena Marie also is wrapping up what she said will be the last major music project of her 31-year career
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But before she winds down, fans can catch one of the Ivory Queen of Soul’s performances tonight at the Hampton Jazz Festival
Teena Marie said she’s always been on tour, which has contributed to her longevity
“My concerts are off the chain,” she said “People don’t ever really get a chance to miss you if you’re there all the time”
She indeed has a cult following Her first album, “Wild and Peaceful,” was released in 1979, and she has fans today who fell in love with her then. stainless steel jewelry wholesale
Perhaps most known for her monster hit “Lovergirl,” Teena Marie enjoyed a string of hits before that single and in the 2 1/2 decades since They include “I’m a Sucker for Your Love,” “Square Biz,” “It Must Be Magic,” “Fire and Desire” (a duet with James), “Out on a Limb,” “Behind the Groove,” “Dear Lover,” “Work It,” “Ooo La La La,” “If I Were a Bell” and “Still in Love”
Her most recent CD, “Congo Square,” was released in June 2009 and included the single “Can’t Last a Day”
“La Doa,” her first album of original music in 10 years when it was released in 2004, spawned three singles and earned her a third Grammy nomination It was followed two years later with “Sapphire,” which included the single “Ooo Wee”
But Hurricane Katrina indirectly affected the release of subsequent singles from “Sapphire”
“All the plans for that album went in another direction,” she said Her label at the time, Cash Money Classics, is based in New Orleans, and its founders had to spend much of their time coping with the storm’s effects She remains close with the Cash Money family, she said
Timing, again, was not on Lady Tee’s side after she signed to Stax Records, and it released “Congo Square” last summer That same week, the King of Pop died
“Everybody went into Michael Jackson mode,” she said
Teena Marie is that rare artist – her fans say Prince is her only possible contemporary – who can sing, play multiple instruments, write, produce and arrange music in several genres while remaining original
Singer-musician Alicia Keys and hip-hop artist and producer Missy Elliott, a Portsmouth native, are modern incarnations of Teena Marie. Ed Hardy Shirts Elliott has paid homage by including an interpolation of the rap from “Square Biz” into her rap on Ciara’s “1, 2 Step. (Chanel). ” She also tapped Teena Marie to be a judge on her one-season reality talent show “The Road to Stardom With Missy Elliott”
Teena Marie, 54, also a prolific poet, is a free-thinker She has been known to nurture talents, often including lesser-known artists on her albums along with A-listers
No guest singers are planned on her forthcoming project, though “I decided to stand on my own this time,” she said The new album also will include at least one song from the limited-release album “Passion Play” that she issued in 1994 on her own label, she said
Then she plans to kick back
“I’m going to retire It’s my last real R&B album as far as a major label,” she said “I’m just tired, tired, tired
“I’ve probably done about 25 shows this year with another 15 to come”
She said she’ll sporadically release jazz and inspirational music, along the lines of her Hurricane Katrina tribute song, “Resilient,” via her website. (Wholesale Ed Hardy Clothing).
That kind of music is needed, she said
“It’s very sad what’s going on in the country, politically, economically, environmentally, even the lyrical content in music It’s really just saddening”
Her last project is upbeat, she said, “because we’re living in some really hard times. (Moncler Outwear). “
No completion date has been set for the album, which would be her 14th
Said Teena: “I do my projects how I want to do them, and then I get the deal”
Jamesetta M Walker, (757) 446-2211, jamesettawalker@ pilotonlinecom
If you go
What Hampton Jazz Festival continues today and Sunday
Tonight’s lineup Charlie Wilson, Teena Marie, Joe, Down to the Bone (begins at 7)
Where Hampton Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Drive
Tickets $5250 per day, plus service and handling fee where applicable, online at
Call (800) 745-3000
What Hampton Jazz Festival
When Through Sunday:
Today, 7 pm. ed hardy shirts
Charlie Wilson
Teena Marie
Joe
Down to the Bone
Sunday, 2 pm
Maze featuring Frankie Beverly
En Vogue
Sax for Stax featuring George Albright & Kirk Whalum
The Fuzz Band
Where Hampton Coliseum, 1000 Coliseum Drive
Tickets $5250 per day, plus service and handling fees where applicable, online at
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