Hi, I missed this until recently. Funk star, Rick James, past away on August 6th. He died from natural causes in his sleep. He was 56. He was Mr Super Freak, the inventor of Punk Funk. Rick James was one funks most colourful characters. He lived the rock 'n' Roll life style to the full. He also paid the price. But he did make some quality music which I have bought & enjoyed. Rick was born James Johnson in Buffalo, NY, 1st Feb 1948. He was the nephew of Melvin Franklin of the Temptations. From an early age he was into music and rebelling. At the age of 15 he joined the Navy. This didn't last long as he went AWOL & hot footed it to Canada. He ended up in Toronto & formed a band called the Mynah Birds. This band included Neil Young (Neil Young, Buffalo springfield) Bruce Palmer (Buffalo Springfield) & Goldie McJohn (Steppenwolf). Rick changed his name to Rick James at this point. The Mynah Birds were signed by Motown but didn't released any records. The band moved to the States but this lead to trouble for Rick. He was arrested for going AWOL. After serving time, he joined a number of bands including a London based band called The Main Line. He ended up at Motown as a writer and producer. He also formed a group called the Stone city Band. This lead to his brand of Rock & Funk called 'Funk & Roll'. Berry Gordy of Motown, in 1978, liked what he heard & signed him as a solo artist. He hit gold straight away. A debut album called 'Come Get It!' which had big singles 'You & I' & 'Mary Jane' (a song about the delights of marijuana). An album called 'Bustin' out of L Seven' followed with the hit Bustin Out. The Album Fire it Up' produced a big US tour which had Prince as support. Rick & Prince were often compared due to their similar erotic, extroverted styles. Further albums & hits followed including the album 'Garden of Love'. His 5th album was his real big one. 'Street Songs' went double platinium & stayed in the US top 100 Album for over a year. He was nominated for a Grammy. This was more or less his best work. It included the big hits, Super Freak, Give it to me & 'Fire & Desire'. This sucess lead to Rick producing The Temptations comeback album 'Standing at the Top'. He also produced records for The Eddie Murphy, Mary Jane Girls & Teena Marie Many other albums & hits followed but non would match the album 'Street Songs'. Rick made a career of helping to break down some taboos such as drug taking, eroticism, sex & high living. His lifestyle backed all this up & in the end it started to take it's toll. He was in and out of jail for drugs & sex charges. He was also in hospital many time over the years. In the late 90's he got his life back on track and produce an album called 'Urban Rapsody'. Rick will be best known by some for the tune that MC Hammer did called 'can't touch this'. This used Super Freak as the main base. Rick had to sue MC Hammer to get proper credit. The record was a worldwide multi-million seller. Rick James was one of the funk stars who took the music from late 70s to the 80s. This was at a time when a lot of the big name Stalwarts had fallen from popular view. His music provided me and many others, some fine dancefloor moments and entertaining funky listening. An album to lookout for is 'Reflections'. This contains his early biggies with not a duffer on it. There are other greatest hit cds that will give you a good flavour of the mans work. Rick James, RIP SCIDB
