American Soul Singer Teena Marie Died

The Grammy-nominated American soul singer Teena Marie has been found dead at his home in California at the age of 54 years, said his manager.

Teena Marie often worked with funk legend Rick James with hits like Lover Girl and the Fire and Desire.

Teena Marie, who was born Mary Christine Brockert, and also used the moniker Lady T was a rare white artist on the label Motown when he was signed by the end of 1970.

She has won four Grammy nominations.Jasmine Vega publicist and director Mike Gardner has confirmed his death.

Mr. Gardner said Teena Marie had apparently died in his sleep at his home and was found by her daughter.

When she signed to Motown, he was concerned about fan reaction to the white star and its image is not on his first album for the label, wild and peaceful.

Her second album bore the photograph of fans proved unfounded fear of rejection.
She became well respected by the black audience and was nicknamed "the Queen of Soul of ivory."

"I have a black artist with white skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what is its soul," he said in an interview in 2009.

The singer left Motown in 1982 and six years after he made his only U.S. R & B singles chart number one Ooo La La La, elements of which appeared on the Fugees song of the same name ten years later.

Teena Marie is back in the limelight with a comeback album in 2004, and landed one of her Grammy nominations the following year in the best R & B female vocal performance category.

The Associated Press in an interview last year, the artist said he had beaten the addiction to prescription drugs, and was about to tour in support of Congo Square, which became his last album.She reached the U.S. charts 20.

In the UK, his biggest success was in 1980, Behind The Groove, which was number six.