Tuesday's Flashback

With the untimely death of Teena Marie on December 26, fans around the globe were shocked and plunged into immediate mourning. Like most of them, I was stunned to hear that she had passed away at the young age of 54. It didn’t seem real. Teena Marie, the Ivory Queen of Soul, was gone.

One of the few white artists to hit big on Motown Records, Teena recorded a string of hits in the 80’s, the biggest of which was Lovergirl. The song was viral on radio and people instantly fell in love with this enchanting songbird. She inspired a generation of female rockers with her feisty style and spunky, funky wardrobe. She was an original.

In a clip from Solid Gold in 1985, the year she burst onto the pop scene in such a big way, Teena showed why she had bolted to stardom. She was electric, she was sensational, she was the whole package. Rest in peace, Teena. We sure do love you.