scott Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 By DAISY NGUYEN, Associated Press Writer LOS ANGELES - Funk legend Rick James, best known for the 1981 hit "Super Freak" before his career collapsed in a cloud of violent drug charges, died Friday. He was 56. James died in his sleep at his residence near Universal City, apparently of natural causes, said his publicist, Sujata Murthy. James lived alone and was found dead by his personal assistant, who notified police, she said. The exact cause was not immediately known. "There'll be an autopsy and we'll find that out shortly," Murthy said. With long hair elaborately styled in braids or Jheri curls, James was one of the biggest R&B stars of the 1980s, composing danceable rhythms and passionate ballads that gained a wide following. Aside from "Super Freak" — which MC Hammer used a decade later as the backing track for his rap smash "U Can't Touch This" — James' hits included "Mary Jane," "Ebony Eyes" and "Fire and Desire," a stirring duet with Teena Marie. "He was really fantastic, he was a creator," singer Little Richard told MSNBC. Toward the end of the '80s, James' fame began to fade as he became embroiled in drugs, legal problems and health troubles. In 1993 he was convicted in two separate cases of assaulting women. The first case occurred in 1991, when prosecutors said James and his girlfriend tied a woman to a chair, burned her with a hot crack pipe and forced her to perform sex acts during a cocaine binge at his West Hollywood home. James was free on bail when the second assault occurred in 1992 in James' hotel room. He served more than two years in Folsom Prison. In 1997 he released a new album, but a year later he suffered a stroke while performing at Denver's Mammoth Events Center, derailing a comeback tour. In 1998 he also underwent hip replacement surgery. James was not married and names of survivors were not immediately available, Murthy said. Funeral arrangements were being planned. /story "I'm Rick James B**h!" That quote will seem so out of place now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 Is that a Joke? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted August 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 The last two lines, yes The whole story, no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 Wow. This just happened today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott Posted August 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 Yup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunt_Acid Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 That's really sad. Unbelievable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazooka Posted August 6, 2004 Report Share Posted August 6, 2004 A little more from BBC News. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denmark Street Posted August 9, 2004 Report Share Posted August 9, 2004 A great shame. At his peak, Rick James was damnnn funky. 'Dance with me' remains a personal favourite of mine. Plus, no man ever did more to boost the sales of geri-curl goo than him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 I just heard a news blurb about Rick James's autopsy results. Death was caused by a "Accidental Heart Attack." Toxicoligy revealed the presence of cocaine, methamphetamine, Vicodin and "other drugs." As Rick once said, "Cocaine is one hell of a drug." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XXX Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Welp, I guess you could say he died doing what he loved most... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Please sign in to comment
You will be able to leave a comment after signing in
Sign In Now