Rick James

**Rick James** (born **James Ambrose Johnson, Jr.;** February 1, 1948 – August 6, 2004) was an American musician and composer.

Influenced by singers such as Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson, James started singing in doo-wop and R&B groups as a teenager in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. After entering the U.S. Navy to avoid being drafted, he deserted to Toronto, where he formed the rock and R&B band, The Mynah Birds, whose lineup once included Bruce Palmer, Neil Young, and Nick St. Nicholas. James' tenure with the group was interrupted after he was discovered recording with the group in Motown in 1966. Surrendering to military authorities, he served a one-year prison term. Upon release, James moved to California to resume his duties with The Mynah Birds, although the group eventually split. James began a series of rock bands in California and worked with Motown under the assumed name "Ricky Matthews" as a songwriter.

In 1977, he signed with the Gordy Records imprint of Motown as a recording artist, releasing his debut, *Come Get It!*, in April 1978 featuring "Mary Jane" and "You and I". The album sold over two million copies and launched his career into the mainstream as a funk and soul artist. His most popular album, 1981's *Street Songs*, launched him into superstardom thanks to the hit singles, "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak", the latter song becoming his signature song for the rest of his life, and the basis of MC Hammer's biggest hit, "U Can't Touch This"; James eventually sued for back royalties. After being credited as writer of the song, James became the 1990 recipient of a Best R&B Song Grammy for composing the song. Due to this success, James was often called the "king of punk funk", for his mix of funk, soul and underground-inspired rock music. In addition to his own success, James emerged as a successful songwriter and producer for other artists, such as Teena Marie, making "Im a Sucker For Your Love" The Mary Jane Girls,(making all their albums) The Temptations,making "Standing On the Top" Eddie Murphy making "Party All The Time" and Smokey Robinson makeing "Ebony Eyes".

An addiction to drugs hampered his career by the late 1980s. In the 1990s, his legal troubles, which included kidnapping and torturing two women while under the influence of crack, led him to serve a three-year sentence at California's Folsom State Prison. James was released on parole in 1996 and resumed his musical career releasing the album, *Urban Rapsody,* in 1997. A mild stroke suffered during a concert in early 1998 interrupted his career for a brief time. James received new notoriety in 2004, when he appeared (as himself) in an episode of the *Chappelle's Show*, in a Charlie Murphy "True Hollywood Stories" segment that satirized James' past wild lifestyle. James died later that year from heart failure, at age 56.

## Songs

Super Freak

Bustin Out

Fire It Up

Dance Wit Me

Give It To Me Baby

Love Gun

Mary Jane

You and I

Fool On The Street

Fire and Desire

Big Time

Cold Blooded

Ebony Eyes

Glow

Ghetto Life

Throwdown

Hard To Get

Summer Love

69 Times

Standing On The Top

17

Teardrops

Hollywood

Be My Lady

## Parody

He is referenced in a Strong Bad Email intro, from the creators of popular internet cartoon Homestar Runner