This page will contain external links about Rick James, as they become available.Rick JamesRick James (James Ambrose Johnson, Jr.) (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was an African-American funk and soul musician, who worked as a singer, keyboardist, bassist, record producer, arranger, and composer during his long career. One of the most popular artists on Motown during the late 1970s and early 1980s, James was famous for his wild brand of funk music and his trademark locks, sporting them well before the style was popularized by actress Bo Derek. BiographyEarly LifeBorn in Buffalo, New York, James was the third of eight children; his father was an autoworker and his mother a former dancer. His uncle was Melvin Franklin, the bass vocalist of The Temptations. At age 15, James joined the U.S. Naval Reserve. He began missing weekend training because it interfered with his musical career and was reported AWOL. Fleeing north to Toronto, Canada in the summer of 1964, James continued his musical career. His first band was called The Sailor Boys, which also featured future Steppenwolf member Nick St. Nicholas. By the end of 1964, the group had evolved into The Mynah Birds and recorded a single for the Canadian arm of Columbia Records. In early 1965, St. Nicholas left the band and was replaced by Bruce Palmer. Shortly afterwards, James and Palmer formed a new Mynah Birds lineup with guitarists Tom Morgan and John Taylor, and drummer Rickman Mason. In early 1966, the Mynah Birds auditioned for the Motown label in Detroit, Michigan. Morgan was unhappy with the label's attitude towards the musicians and left, with Neil Young taking his place. With Young on board, the Mynah Birds returned to Motown to record an album, but their manager pocketed the advance money the label had given the band. The band fired their manager, who in turn told the label that James was AWOL. Motown told him to give himself up to the FBI, and the Mynah Birds' album was shelved. James' career continuesJames spent a year in the Brooklyn Brig, after which he returned to briefly returned to Toronto. He soon returned to Motown and became a songwriter and producer at Motown, working with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and The Spinners. In the summer of 1969, he moved to Los Angeles, California and formed a band called Salt 'N' Pepper with Canadians Ed Roth (keyboards), Dave Burt (guitar), and Coffi Hall (drums). Former Buffalo Springfield roadie Chris Sarns played bass for a while, before Ron Johnson from Kaleidoscope stepped in the following year. The group recorded a demo for Atlantic Records, and played at the Fillmore West with Jethro Tull. In 1971, James and Roth recorded two singles in Toronto for RCA Records with Heaven and Earth, a band that also featured guitarist Stan Endersby, bass player Denny Gerrard, and drummer Pat Little. James left Heaven and Earth later that year; he, Roth, and Gerrard formed a new group called Great White Cane with horn players Bob Doughty and Ian Kojima, drummer Norman Wellbanks, guitarist Nick Balkou, and keyboard player John Cleveland Hughes. The group recorded an album for Lion Records in Los Angeles in March 1972, but by that summer they had disbanded. At the end of 1972, James and Roth formed the first version of the Stone City Band with Peter Hodgson (bass), Danny Marks (guitar) and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums/vocals). An album's worth of material was recorded in mid-1973 but was never released. James signed to A&M Records the following year and issued a single entitled "My Mama". Return to Motown and stardomIn 1977, he returned to Motown as a songwriter/producer. He soon began recording for Motown's Gordy label, first with the Hot Lips and then with a new version of the Stone City Band. James' breakthrough single was "You And I", an eight-minute magnum opus from his 1978 debut album Come Get It. The album also featured his ode to marijuana, "Mary Jane". 1979 saw James release two albums: Bustin' Out Of L Seven, in January, and Fire It Up that fall. The latter included hits such as the title track and "Spacey Love" a ballad dedicated to singer Patti Labelle. After 1980's lackluster Garden Of Love album, he then recorded a concept album entitled Street Songs. The 1981 release included "Super Freak", James biggest hit. "Super Freak", which features guest vocals from The Temptations, was sampled for MC Hammer's 1990 Grammy award-winning song "U Can't Touch This". Other hits from Street Songs included "Give it to Me Baby", "Fire & Desire" with protege Teena Marie and "Ghetto Life". The stream of hits continued into the mid-1980s with "Teardrops", "Cold Blooded", "17", "You Turn Me On" and "Glow", which was his last R&B hit in 1985. During this period, he also helped launch the careers of Caucasian R&B singer Teena Marie and the Mary Jane Girls as well as producing actor Eddie Murphy's one-hit wonder "Party All The Time." Personal problems and declineAs the 1980s segued into the 1990s, the dark side of James' life began to overpower his music. He was a recreational drug user, addicted mainly to cocaine. In 1993, James was convicted of assaulting two women, with the first assault during one of his cocaine binges. Serving two years in Folsom Prison did not stop him from writing new songs, even if he did it behind bars. He was released in 1995, and during interviews for a segment of the VH1 series Behind The Music, he spoke openly about his life and his battle with drugs for the first time. Rick James attempted a comeback with a new album and tour in 1997, but suffered a mild stroke during a concert in Denver, Colorado, effectively ending his musical career. "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories"On February 11, 2004, Dave Chappelle aired a Rick James-parodying skit called "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories" on his sketch comedy television program, Chappelle's Show. The three-part skit was a fictional E! True Hollywood Story-style retrospective of the supposed love-and-hate friendship between James and Eddie Murphy's older brother Charlie Murphy during James' early-1980s peak. The young James, played by Chappelle, was depicted as an egotistical, misogynistic cocaine addict who picked upon Murphy and constantly reminded people "I'm Rick James, bitch!" Charlie Murphy played himself in both the flashback sequences (complete with Jheri curl) and mock interview segments, which are contrasted with mock interview footage of the real James, who refutes some of Murphy's recollections while acknowledging his own problems at the same time. Footage where James uses the expression "Cocaine's a hell of a drug" is edited into the skit a number of times to sum up his alleged behavior. The sketch was one of the most famous to come from the show, returning James to the public spotlight and making "I'm Rick James, bitch!" a popular catch phrase. Rick James' last public performance was at the 2004 BET Music Awards on June 29, 2004. Part of the on-stage routine involved a crowd-pleasing recital of the Chappelle's Show catch phrase by the real James himself. PassingOn August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead in his Los Angeles home by his caretaker. James had died from pulmonary and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, and a pacemaker being listed as attributing factors. A coroner's report released September 16, 2004 officially ruled his death as accidental, reporting nine drugs found in James' bloodstream:
Rick James was interred in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. At the time of his death, he was working on an autobiography, Confessions Of A Superfreak, as well as a new album. Although he was married previously (and later divorced), he leaves behind three children, Tazman, Ty, and Rick James, Jr.; and granddaughters Jasmine and Charisma. Scheduled for release in 2005 is the DVD Rick James: Rockpalast Live, which features a 1982 concert performance from Essen, Germany. Discography
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Scheduled for release in 2005 is the DVD Rick James: Rockpalast Live, which features a 1982 concert performance from Essen, Germany. King continued to perform and record through the 1990s. Although he was married previously (and later divorced), he leaves behind three children, Tazman, Ty, and Rick James, Jr.; and granddaughters Jasmine and Charisma. Ben E. At the time of his death, he was working on an autobiography, Confessions Of A Superfreak, as well as a new album. His hits after 1963 were "What is Soul?" (1967), "Supernatural Thing, part 1" (1975), and the re-issue in 1986 of "Stand by Me," which became popular after serving as the theme music of the movie of the same name. Rick James was interred in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles. King's records continued to place well on the pop charts until 1963, when British pop bands began to dominate the popular music scene. A coroner's report released September 16, 2004 officially ruled his death as accidental, reporting nine drugs found in James' bloodstream:. "Stand by Me", written by King along with Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller was voted one of the Songs of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and it plus "Spanish Harlem" were named as two of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll and were both also given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award. James had died from pulmonary and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, and a pacemaker being listed as attributing factors. "Stand by Me" was his next recording. On August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead in his Los Angeles home by his caretaker. His first hit as a solo performer was "Spanish Harlem" (1961). Rick James' last public performance was at the 2004 BET Music Awards on June 29, 2004. Part of the on-stage routine involved a crowd-pleasing recital of the Chappelle's Show catch phrase by the real James himself. King and performed solo. The sketch was one of the most famous to come from the show, returning James to the public spotlight and making "I'm Rick James, bitch!" a popular catch phrase. He adopted the stage name Ben E. The young James, played by Chappelle, was depicted as an egotistical, misogynistic cocaine addict who picked upon Murphy and constantly reminded people "I'm Rick James, bitch!" Charlie Murphy played himself in both the flashback sequences (complete with Jheri curl) and mock interview segments, which are contrasted with mock interview footage of the real James, who refutes some of Murphy's recollections while acknowledging his own problems at the same time. Footage where James uses the expression "Cocaine's a hell of a drug" is edited into the skit a number of times to sum up his alleged behavior. In 1960 he left the group after failing to obtain a raise in salary and increase in his share of royalties. The three-part skit was a fictional E! True Hollywood Story-style retrospective of the supposed love-and-hate friendship between James and Eddie Murphy's older brother Charlie Murphy during James' early-1980s peak. He also sang lead, using his birth name, on "Dance With Me," "This Magic Moment," "Save the Last Dance for Me," "I Count the Tears," and other Drifters hits. On February 11, 2004, Dave Chappelle aired a Rick James-parodying skit called "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories" on his sketch comedy television program, Chappelle's Show. He co-wrote the first hit by the new version of the Drifters, "There Goes My Baby" (1959). Rick James attempted a comeback with a new album and tour in 1997, but suffered a mild stroke during a concert in Denver, Colorado, effectively ending his musical career. Later that same year, The Drifters' manager fired the members of the group and replaced them with the Five Crowns, who had performed several engagements with the Drifters. He was released in 1995, and during interviews for a segment of the VH1 series Behind The Music, he spoke openly about his life and his battle with drugs for the first time. In 1958, Ben Nelson joined a doo wop group, The Five Crowns. Serving two years in Folsom Prison did not stop him from writing new songs, even if he did it behind bars. King (born Benjamin Earl Nelson in September 28, 1938 in Henderson, North Carolina) is an American soul and pop singer.He is best known as the singer and co-composer of "Stand by Me", a top ten hit in both 1961 and 1986. In 1993, James was convicted of assaulting two women, with the first assault during one of his cocaine binges. Ben E. He was a recreational drug user, addicted mainly to cocaine. As the 1980s segued into the 1990s, the dark side of James' life began to overpower his music. During this period, he also helped launch the careers of Caucasian R&B singer Teena Marie and the Mary Jane Girls as well as producing actor Eddie Murphy's one-hit wonder "Party All The Time.". The stream of hits continued into the mid-1980s with "Teardrops", "Cold Blooded", "17", "You Turn Me On" and "Glow", which was his last R&B hit in 1985. Other hits from Street Songs included "Give it to Me Baby", "Fire & Desire" with protege Teena Marie and "Ghetto Life". "Super Freak", which features guest vocals from The Temptations, was sampled for MC Hammer's 1990 Grammy award-winning song "U Can't Touch This". The 1981 release included "Super Freak", James biggest hit. After 1980's lackluster Garden Of Love album, he then recorded a concept album entitled Street Songs. The latter included hits such as the title track and "Spacey Love" a ballad dedicated to singer Patti Labelle. 1979 saw James release two albums: Bustin' Out Of L Seven, in January, and Fire It Up that fall. The album also featured his ode to marijuana, "Mary Jane". James' breakthrough single was "You And I", an eight-minute magnum opus from his 1978 debut album Come Get It. He soon began recording for Motown's Gordy label, first with the Hot Lips and then with a new version of the Stone City Band. In 1977, he returned to Motown as a songwriter/producer. James signed to A&M Records the following year and issued a single entitled "My Mama". An album's worth of material was recorded in mid-1973 but was never released. At the end of 1972, James and Roth formed the first version of the Stone City Band with Peter Hodgson (bass), Danny Marks (guitar) and Malcolm Tomlinson (drums/vocals). The group recorded an album for Lion Records in Los Angeles in March 1972, but by that summer they had disbanded. In 1971, James and Roth recorded two singles in Toronto for RCA Records with Heaven and Earth, a band that also featured guitarist Stan Endersby, bass player Denny Gerrard, and drummer Pat Little. James left Heaven and Earth later that year; he, Roth, and Gerrard formed a new group called Great White Cane with horn players Bob Doughty and Ian Kojima, drummer Norman Wellbanks, guitarist Nick Balkou, and keyboard player John Cleveland Hughes. The group recorded a demo for Atlantic Records, and played at the Fillmore West with Jethro Tull. Former Buffalo Springfield roadie Chris Sarns played bass for a while, before Ron Johnson from Kaleidoscope stepped in the following year. In the summer of 1969, he moved to Los Angeles, California and formed a band called Salt 'N' Pepper with Canadians Ed Roth (keyboards), Dave Burt (guitar), and Coffi Hall (drums). He soon returned to Motown and became a songwriter and producer at Motown, working with Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers and The Spinners. James spent a year in the Brooklyn Brig, after which he returned to briefly returned to Toronto. Motown told him to give himself up to the FBI, and the Mynah Birds' album was shelved. The band fired their manager, who in turn told the label that James was AWOL. With Young on board, the Mynah Birds returned to Motown to record an album, but their manager pocketed the advance money the label had given the band. Morgan was unhappy with the label's attitude towards the musicians and left, with Neil Young taking his place. In early 1966, the Mynah Birds auditioned for the Motown label in Detroit, Michigan. Shortly afterwards, James and Palmer formed a new Mynah Birds lineup with guitarists Tom Morgan and John Taylor, and drummer Rickman Mason. Nicholas left the band and was replaced by Bruce Palmer. In early 1965, St. By the end of 1964, the group had evolved into The Mynah Birds and recorded a single for the Canadian arm of Columbia Records. Nicholas. His first band was called The Sailor Boys, which also featured future Steppenwolf member Nick St. Fleeing north to Toronto, Canada in the summer of 1964, James continued his musical career. He began missing weekend training because it interfered with his musical career and was reported AWOL. Naval Reserve. At age 15, James joined the U.S. His uncle was Melvin Franklin, the bass vocalist of The Temptations. Born in Buffalo, New York, James was the third of eight children; his father was an autoworker and his mother a former dancer. One of the most popular artists on Motown during the late 1970s and early 1980s, James was famous for his wild brand of funk music and his trademark locks, sporting them well before the style was popularized by actress Bo Derek. Rick James (James Ambrose Johnson, Jr.) (February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was an African-American funk and soul musician, who worked as a singer, keyboardist, bassist, record producer, arranger, and composer during his long career. Anthology (2002). Urban Rapsody (1997). Bustin' Out: The Very Best of Rick James (1994). Wonderful (1988). The Flag (1986). Glow (1985). Reflections (1984). Cold Blooded (1983). Throwin' Down (1982). Street Songs (1981; deluxe edition released 2001). Garden of Love (1980). Fire It Up (1979). Bustin' Out of L Seven (1979). Come Get It (1978). |