Posted on 08/06/2004 2:51:51 PM PDT by missyme
Singer Rick James, a musical icon of the 1980s who helped define the "punk funk" style of that decade, was found dead in his home Friday morning by his caretaker, a Los Angeles police Department spokesman said. He was 56
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Today the world mourns a musician and performer of the funkiest kind," said Neil Portow, president of the Recording Academy, which is responsible for the Grammy Awards. "The 'Super Freak' will be missed."
James became an instant icon in 1981 with his album "Street Songs," a funk masterpiece that featured such hits as "Super Freak," "Give it To Me Baby," and "Fire and Desire."
"I'm trying to change the root of funk, trying to make it more progressive, more melodic and more lyrically structured," James once said.
Previous thread with links to stories and over 200 comments:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1186467/posts
Cocaine's a helluva drug...
First report was "natural causes." I suppose for James, using coke came naturally.
"musical icon: LOL just another one hit wonder.
Didn't this guy enslave somebody in his home for a lengthy period of time because of a crack addiction?
Darn! I tried to search for it and didn't see it
he was an interesting fellow, heck of a musician, wasted alot of his life, hope he was right with the Lord.
He did play some great Music..King of Disco...
he was also the nephew of Malvin Franklin, bass singer
of the Temptations-probably how he got into the business.
Although now dead for several hours, James's corpse was seen buying cocaine on a local street corner near the mortuary.
no way... he was not disco... he was funk... i remember seeing him and Teena Marie in concert back in 1981 (in Oakland)... i had been a fan since Jr. High in the late 70's... "You and I," and "Mary Jane" were popular back then... (The Mary Jane Girls were his back up singers)...
From Chapelle " Rick James, Bit$$!!"
[SLAP]
All across America, bongs are at half mast.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.