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Rick James. Chronicles of A Super Freak. Tatton Galyean Taylor DeWeese Jeff Williams. His Life. He was born James Johnson Jr. February 1, 1948 in Buffalo, New York He was the oldest child in a family of eight. He was the nephew of the Temptations Melvin Franklin
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Rick James Chronicles of A Super Freak Tatton Galyean Taylor DeWeese Jeff Williams
His Life • He was born James Johnson Jr. February 1, 1948 in Buffalo, New York • He was the oldest child in a family of eight. • He was the nephew of the Temptations Melvin Franklin • Joined the Navy at age 15 and fled to Canada after going AWOL • Went to prison for the Abduction and Sexual Assault of his girlfriend
He founded his first group, the Mynah Birds, in Toronto • He soon became known as Rick James • The Mynah Birds consisted of Neil Young and Bruce Palmer of Buffalo Springfield, and Goldie McJohn of Steppenwolf • The group recorded a couple of tracks but nothing was ever released
In 1977 formed the Stone City Band • The band experimented with a mixture of Rock and Funk, which he called “Funk ‘n’ Roll” • In 1978 he signed with Berry Gordy to Motown Records • Later that year his first record, Come Get It, was released • “Mary Jane” and “You and I” were his two hit songs
Records 1978 - Come Get It! 1979 - Bustin' Out of L Seven 1979 - Fire It Up 1980 - Garden of Love 1981 - Street Songs 1982 - Throwin' Down 1983 - Cold Blooded 1984 - Reflections 1985 - Glow 1986 - The Flag 1988 - Wonderful 1994 - Bustin' Out - The Very Best of Rick James 1997 - Urban Rapsody 2001 - Street Songs - Deluxe Edition 2002 - Anthology
His Influences • Smokey Robinson • The Temptations • Paul McCartney • Neil Young • Dizzy Gillispie
Who He Influenced • Prince • Eddie Murphy • MC Hammer • Teena Marie • And several Mary Jane Girl’s
Awards and Accomplishments • 1990-Grammy Best R@B Song, written by Rick James and Recorded By MC Hammer • 2003 ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Heritage Award • Number 1 Songs • You and I – 1978 • Super Freak – 1981 • I - 1983
His Death • Throughout his life he was a heavy alcoholic and cocaine addict • He was hospitalized several times between 1979 and 1984 • Died in his sleep of cardiac failure on August 6, 2004 • The Coroner found 9 different drugs in his system • He was 56 years old • He suffered from diabetes, had several strokes, and used a pacemaker during the final years of his life
Questions • What type of music did Rick James create? • What was the name of his first band? • What is a hell of a drug?
References http://slate.msn.com/id/2105003/ http://www.rickjames.com/ http://www.ascap.com/eventsawards/awards/rsawards/2004/rickjames.html