Entertainer Teena Marie, born Mary C. Brockert, died on 26 December in her sleep from what was apparently natural causes. I say ‘apparently’ because I’ve learned to always wait on the autopsy results before saying definitively ‘natural causes.’

Teena Marie had been referred to as the Ivory Queen of Soul during her 30 year professional musical career. I admit I was never a big fan, but she and Rick James laid a foundation in R&B music that was underrated, yet can be found today in the music of the Black Eyed Peas and groups of their like.

As 2010 comes to a close, I thought it most appropriate to show Teena Marie’s concert at the San Dimas Jazz Fest West earlier this year.  She no longer had the “teeny bopper” body of her youth or the studio enhanced vocal range, but this glasses and high heel wearing, 54 year old woman worked the stage and the crowd for well over an hour and I was exhausted just watching her in action. The world will be a little sadder place in 2011 without this woman’s music.  The sound of this video is wild (in the sense that it was not later enhanced in a studio) and I have no idea how long this YouTube link will be live, but it’s very appropriate that she is my last post for 2010. Happy New Year!

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