Teena Marie
b. Mary Christine Brocker, 1957, Santa Monica, California, USA. A singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer, Teena Marie is one of the few white artists to sustain a consistent career in the US soul market. Spotted by Motown Records' Berry Gordy in the '70s, he put her in touch with funk star and label-mate Rick James, and her early career strongly reflected their joint influence. The highly commercial WILD AND PEACEFUL saw her backed by James and the Stone City Band on a set which included their hit duet, I'm A Sucker For Your Love. She returned the favour by partnering James on Fire And Desire on his STREET SONGS album in 1981. Afterwards Marie took increasing control of her career and songwriting, singing both ballads and funk. Both I Need Your Lovin' and Square Biz reached the Top 20 of the US Billboard charts in 1980 and 1981 respectively. In the UK Behind The Groove, a surprise disco smash at number 6 in the singles chart, led to confusion in public minds over her and the similarly titled Kelly Marie (it also, accidentally, picked up on the prevalent UK disco trend for songs with 'Groove' in the title). However, her greatest success followed her move to Epic Records, which some saw as an assertion of her independence, and the number 4-peaking US hit, Lovergirl. Afterwards her chart career declined. EMERALD CITY was a funky outing, notable particularly for Stevie Ray Vaughan guitar solo on You So Heavy. Demonstrating her talent to modernise her technique with the advent of each new instalment in R&B's development, IVORY was produced by Soul II Soul's Jazzie B.