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Rick
James
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(CNN) -- 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.
James' personal physician signed his death
certificate, and said his death was the result of
"existing medical conditions," police spokesman
Jason Lee said.
I don't know if you remember the first time you heard a
Rick James song but I remember when I did. It was circa 1978
and I was a young naive boy at the tender age of 9. I remember
my older brother prancing into our home with a brown paper bag
tucked snugly under his arm. He walked purposefully over to
our record player and pulled something out of that brown bag
that would forever change my life.
As my brother proudly placed the disc onto the spinning
wheel he turned towards me, gave a slight grin and asked
"boy what you know about this"? Once the needle hit
the groove the speakers filled our house with the sweet sounds
of what is now known as 'Punk Funk'. I was immediately
overwhelmed by its melodic overture and it was at that moment
that I fell in love with Mary Jane (it wasn't until many years
later that I found out what he was really singing
about).
Over the years the music of Rick James would go on to
influence the lives of many. I don't know one person that
didn't at some point either wanna be or claim to be a 'Super
Freak'. But what was truly remarkable about his music was the
fact that he could have you burning up the dance floor one
second with one of his up tempo jams or he could have you slow
winding to one of the many ballads.
For me its not about Fire & Desire or Ebony
Eyes which were great slow songs in their own right, but
for me it goes back to Spacey Love and Jefferson
Ball. Now if you can go there with me then I know that
you're truly old school and know what I'm saying when I say
that there will never be another like Rick James.
So way before the drug abuse, the prison stint and even the
Chappell show Rick James was immortalized in the heart and
souls of many an old schooler. So do me a favor please, the
next time you think of the old Super Freak try to remember all
of the joy that he brought to this planet while he was
here.
So the next time you hanging out with the Mary Jane
Girls All Night Long lean over and whisper "Give
It To Me Baby". If she replies "You Can't
Touch This" remind her that the Super Freak in
you has a Fire & Desire for her Spacey Love.
Look directly into her Ebony Eyes and say "baby
you not just some Around The Way Girl, so let the Candy
Man take you to Jefferson Ball cause I'm A
Sucker For Your Love".
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