According to reports, singer Teena Marie has died.
The singer was reportedly found dead at her home by her daughter earlier this morning (December 26). Marie's manager made the announcement about the singer's passing via his Twitter.
The cause of Marie's passing has yet to be revealed but it was mentioned that the singer suffered a seizure last month.
Teena Marie rose to stardom in the late 70's early 80's and was best known in the R&B community for her duet "Fire and Desire" with the late singer Rick James.
One of Teena's last tweets was a Sarah Vaughan quote that read "May you never get old and may I never die"...
Check out Rick and Teena's last performance of "Fire and Desire" when you...
Every year when this date rolls around following singer Aaliyah's sudden passing on August 25, 2001, a little part of me hurts. No, I didn't know AaliyahDana Haughton personally never got a chance to meet her; but I have always been a fan and felt a connection to her via her music.
I can remember my cousin and I staying up late at her house in Queens, NY requesting Aaliyah's video for her song "If Your Girl Only Knew" on Video Music Box -- this was like the 106th and Park of the 90's.
Anyway, she was a singer that a lot of us 80's babies and 90's darlings could connect with because she was young, authentic, and maintained the two things we loved most about her; her originality and distinctive beauty.
It has been confirmed that legendary soul singer Teddy Pendergrass has passed away at the age of 59.
According to sources, Teddy, who was paralyzed after a 1982 car accident, passed away after his long battle with colon cancer. The singer had undergone surgery 8 months ago but had a difficult time recovering from the procedure.
It almost slipped my mind today that this day marks the 13th year anniversary of Tupac Shakur's passing. With my head consumed with all the VMA coverage I have been swamped in, I had to pull myself away from the glitz to pay homage to Hip-Hop's most prized possession.
Despite what people's perceptions may be of Pac he was a very talented individual. His Gemini qualities allowed him to express his thoughts in a way that everyone could understand; his mutable trait would eventually lead to his downfall.
He didn't spend most of his career rapping about drugs, women, and money as people would like you to believe. Did you know that he did not rack up a criminal record until after he became a music artist? Pac attended a performance art school where he starred in school plays and he would later go on to dance alongside alternative rap group Digital Underground (the minds behind "Humpty Dance").
His music style was heavily influenced by his life's lessons which was a trait that allowed him to stand above the rest. To those who argue that Tupac was not an MC need to do extensive research before concurring. All of Pac'ssongs narrated untold stories. We all knew a Brenda in the early 90's but no one rapped about it until Pac.
Tupac will always be missed and his name will continue to remain synonymous with Hip-Hop. Thanks to his music and his unconditional love for music, we have an abundance of songs recorded by him. Through his songs he will forever live on in our hearts.
I remember the first time I fell in love with Aaliyah's music. My cousin and I would spend hours watching Video Music Box (to those of you not familiar, this was the 90's version of 106th and Park minus the screaming fans) waiting for Aaliyah's "Back & Forth" video to play. You see, back then you would have to call in and request the video and wait hours, and hours, and some more hours to see it play; but it was the experience that mattered the most.
What I admired most about Aaliyah was the fact that she stood out from the breed of over-sexed artists that flaunted their bodies in scantly clad outfits only to divert your attention away from their voices that was their real selling point. Aaliyah could sing and dance and showcase her sexy without even trying. When she came back in 2000/2001 with a new look, a lot of fans were shocked. The last time we saw Aaliyah in a skirt was for a brief moment in one of her videos, but Ms. Haughton was serving her T&A and attitude for days on "We Need A Resolution", loved it!
The day I found out she passed in a plane crash was the night of August 25th, 2001 when I was on the computer browsing the net and saw words scrolling at the bottom of a rock video I happen to be watching on MTV. I thought it was a joke, because just a few days before she appeared on 106th and Park to give away a free black Escalade; I couldn't fathom that she could be here one day and gone the next.
Aaliyah's music was one of the soundtracks of the 90's. Everyone wanted that dime male or female and would experience heartbreak and falling in love wearing their baggy jeans, cut off tops, and dark shades (if you had this combo you were the ishlol). Though she is here in spirit and not in the physical, her music does the talking for her now. She was a revolutionary that defined all standards of what a singer was and what they could do. No one could imagine a soft voice over a Hip-Hop beat until Aaliyah made it happen and for that she will forever be missed but will forever live in our hearts. R.I.P. Aaliyah.
Check out a video of a rare interview with Aaliyah and some of the music that set her name in lights.
Today Michael Jackson was given a send-off that was on point and well deserved. There isn't a person on this earth that can dispute the fact that Michael was a great artists in the brightest sense. Michael brought forth an amazing movement in music that hasn't been topped since it's birth. His music is the truth but the person behind it is even truer. Not too many people understand the essence and important elements behind music that is good. I'm not talking about OK music or music that is acceptable, I'm talking about music that embodies the long lasting intensity to be enjoyed even after it has been played time and time again. You see, when Michael performed, he didn't just sing the song to sing the song; he felt every last lyric he sang. He performed with every bone in his body and it wasn't just for the pay he was to receive after the performance but for his inner love for music. The media is going bonkers using headlines like "King of Pop Dead" and "Michael Jackson Dead at 50" to evoke somber emotions.
Honestly, I don't believe that Michael is dead. Michael had such an everlasting energy that he cemented in his music. We as music fans will continue to play his music not due to his death but because they are genuinely good music. Because we will continue to listen and play his music we won't forget his legacy and all that he stood for. Michael did more than leave behind his music, he left behind his signature moonwalk, no one can argue that Mike created, patented, and sold us that dance; and because of that, Michael will continue to live on in our memories and most importantly in our hearts. He was more than just a performer or singer, he was an Entertainer that devoted his time and energy to his fans. Michael had star power that was unparalleled to the average performer. He created his own style and sound and changed the way performers performed. We have him to thank for the dancing mavens like the Chris Brown's, the Usher's, and even the Diddy's in music. His music was his life's gift to us and as repayment we will always be grateful when we press play and sing a long to a Michael Jackson classic. May he rest in peace with pride. {Photos provided by LA Times, Rolling Stone, Michael Jackson.com, and Getty Images}
