R.I.P. Teena Marie - This Christmas we lose another 'Unsung' Legendary Singer

Ironically I was editing this piece when I got word that Teena Marie passed suddenly of a heart attack, and while it hurt my heart to hear it, as I turned on my copy of Portugeese Love, I realized that she will always be here through her music.

Teena Marie died today at 54 when her daughter found her dead at her home of an apparent heart attack. more details to come.

The four times grammy nominated, Mary Christine Brockert had a strong African-American influence from her godmother. Blessed with the gift of music at a young age, the Santa Monica, California native grew up in the historically African-American enclave of Oakwood in westside Los Angeles. Raised on Motown music and Singing Harry Belafonte music by age two, Ms. Marie's self-professed "Gift from God" would become fine-tuned as the years progressed.
As a child, she had an acting role on The Beverly Hillbillies, credited as Tina Marie Brockert. She also sang at the wedding of actor Jerry Lewis's son when she was 10 years old.
Marie worked briefly at Mar Vista's Pup 'n' Taco in the mid 1970s while attending Venice High School, where she joined the Summer Dance Production, and also had a role in the school's production of The Music Man.[5] In a recent television interview she noted she drove a Chevy Vega during this period.

A BlackTree Media Production

Segment Journalist Deserrae Mitchell


footage shot October 2010

http://www.blacktree.tv

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[darkprince481]

it's sad to see how hateful people really are, i've always loved teena marie as a person and as a singer. Now nearly all of my favorite singers are gone, Michael Jackson and Teena Marie were and will always be at the top of my list there will never be anyone who can replace them.

[CAROLYNMARIE18]

Ignorant people can be so hartles thank GOD there are still people with grey matter in there Brains and can recognize real and wonderful talent (peace) LOVE you Teena

[WestCoastCaws]

Thanks for posting. But she lived in the Oakwood section of Venice California, and not Santa Monica CA.

[skinpli]

i would never compare tina to females singers today not even closeee...she came from a era where music was NOT AUTO TUNED im glad i was there to enjoy her R.I.P calif girl ....

[95jcena]

Teena marie was born in 1956 not 1996, someone needs to fix that

[GaelaMorgana]

@HippieGoddess142 Racists That Don't Understand Her or Her Love of Afro-American Culture And Music...

[GaelaMorgana]

@ThePocahontas225 TRUE THAT!!! And Man, Could She Hold A Note And Make A Note BREATHE!!! Perfect Example of This, Was In Her Song "Since Day One" On Her Album "Ivory", Check This Album/Song Out And You'll See What I'm Talking About, This Was One of The Best Notes She Ever Hit As Far As I'm Concerned, One of My Favorites :)

[GaelaMorgana]

Corrections: Teena Marie Did Not Die "This Christmas" As You Say, She Died The Day *After* Christmas (The 26th) And She Did Not Die of A Heart Attack, She Died of A Seizure, Which She Had A Previous Experience With About A Month Before Her Death. She Passed Away Peacefully In Her Sleep, The Best Way To Go As Far As I'm Concerned! Now She's Singing With All The Angels (Luther, Rick & Marvin For Example) In God's Choir! Rest In Eternal Everlasting Peace Lady T, There Will *Never* Be Another You.

[jceowoodard]

Can you download the Carl Anderson Teena Marie song "Absence Without Love"

[MsLADYELISE]

@comalaism YOUR COMMENT DOES NOT INDICATE A PERSON WHO HOLDS 2 COLLEGE DEGREES AND A 7 FIGURE SALARY,BUT THAT OF A PERSON WITH A YEAR SHORT OF A JR.HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMIA

[soulsista1220]

It takes a bunch of ignorant fools to come to a page representing the one and only Teena Marie and be so foul-mouthed and disrespectful. Young fools. It's a damn shame. When I think of Teena Marie I think of something sweet to the ears and super soulful. Not the shit I'm reading here. Have some respect for the Incomparable Ms. Teena Marie.....

[RNBNMYSOUL]

Do not scroll down, comments below are filled with hate and ignorance. OAN

RIP Christine Brocket aka Teena Marie~You will never be forgotten, your music lives on in our hearts and souls~God bless you and your family~Love you

[ThePocahontas225]

Teena marie got more soul than most of these phoney ass black singers out today.

[HippieGoddess142]

Who would hate on Lady T!?

[benrobinson77]

im black and white and teena marie kicks ass. it sucks that people have to hate on someone who is dead and was a major influence in helping the world to blend the black and white worlds more than i can do. the whole "wigger" thing is so tired (Mr Rickster). stop hating a diva as she is dead.

[USAisAntiWhite]

@comalaism ...silly little insecure boy.

[comalaism]

@USAisAntiWhite Who is the "sista" you are referring to dumbass? I am not female. You are an asshole and you will age and probably are already fat, and when you die no one will feel like "dealing with it" because you are not even interesting enough to make any sick. Come back when you take your GED exam, I know my two college degrees and my seven figure salary will have you mopping my floors, taking out my trash. In your case abortion needs to be retroactive, You are useless.

[USAisAntiWhite]

@comalaism ...She had a young voice but definitely aged and got fat and now she's dead. Deal with it sista!

[lynn125lynn]

Aw man... Teena... sometimes, for a second, you forget she's really are gone.

She is one of my favorites & the few artists that was accepted & respected day one by black folk. (in my day) I feel sorry for those (with the ignorant comments) who will miss out on something very special. That voice & those lyrics go right though you, straight to your heart and soul...

[shegetherownchecks]

her daughter is pretty



[comalaism]

The jackass that commented on Teena's age and appearance needs to go back to school and learn respect and manners. No doubt of parents who were incapable of raising children who do not think before they speak. If you can not say anything positive about Teena then go somewhere else. Teena Marie will be remembered for generations to come. Who knows who you are? Just goes to show what a disease people who are uneducated and bigoted are. Teena will live forever, you will be forgotten minute one,

[uknowo]

@MochaSkies LoL that's why I'm laughh'in at these motha fuckas complain about her be"in white, she probably more ghetto than them.

[MochaSkies]

Teena Marie seems so real. She is white on the outside but black in the inside. LOL!!

[bahiyyah1919]

Stay strong lil lady "T"!!!! Philly will always your Mom!!!!....OnE-LoVe'

[BrooklynNYC777]

love her music

[USAisAntiWhite]

What is the difference between rap and hip hop? Aint it the same?! She had a young voice but definitely aged and got fat.