R. James

Real Name:
James Ambrose Johnson, Jr
Profile:
American Multi-talent / Musician
Rick James was born James Johnson on 1 February 1948 in Buffalo, New York as the third oldest child in a family of eight.

His life started in the Buffalo ghetto was very harsh and by age 14 he already had legal troubles. In 1964 James went AWOL from the Navy because it interfered with his music career and he fled to Canada for a few years.

Rick James is credited for establishing the Punk Funk style. His first band, formed in the 1960's with future Steppenwolf member Nick St. Nicholas was initially called the Sailor Boys but soon changed their name to Mynah Birds, The. He also formed the blues band The Main Line and was singing and writing in Great White Cane, The.

In 1977 he formed the Stone City Band. His first album 'Come and Get It' reached position 3 on the R&B charts, 'You and I' went gold in September and 'Mary Jane', a barely-disguised hymn to marijuana, hit US R&B #3 in October. He also helped launch the Mary Jane Girls in the mid-80's.

On the morning of August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead in his Burbank, California home. James had died from pulmonary failure and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, a pacemaker and a heart attack.
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Artist

Shortcut Code: [a20957]
Data Quality Rating: Needs Vote

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Discography

Releases:
You And I (2 versions)   Motown ... 1978
High On Your Love Suite / One Mo Hit (Of Your Love) / Saturday Night, Sunday Morning (12", Promo)   Motown 1979
Motown Legends Give It To Me Baby - Cold Blooded (CD, Comp)   Polygram Special Markets, Motown 1994
Super Freak (12", RE)   Motown 2005
Production:
Meet The Stone City Band! - Out From The Shadow (Album) (3 versions)   Gordy ... 1983
The Hitsound Of Motown (2xCD, Comp) Super Freak Motown 1994
Mix:
Meet The Stone City Band! - Out From The Shadow (Album) (2 versions)   Gordy 1983
Appears On:
Strut Your Stuff / F.I.M.A. (Funk In Mama Afrika) (7") F.I.M.A. (Funk In Mama... Gordy 1980
Hot New York Nights (2xLP, Album, Gat) Candy Man Bellaphon 1983
Let's Break (12") Super Freak Break Records 1983
Meet The Stone City Band! - Out From The Shadow (Album) (3 versions)   Gordy ... 1983
Breakdancing (LP) Let's Break K-Tel, K-Tel International (Finland) Oy 1984
Funkytown '85 (LP, Comp) In My House, In My House RCA, RCA BV Holland 1985
Stomp And Shout (12")   Columbia 1985
Wild And Crazy Love (Single) (2 versions)   Gordy 1985
Mike's Mixes (The Dance Goes On '86 - Volume I) (LP, Comp, Promo, Ltd) Party All The Time CBS 1986
Private Conversations (7")   Amherst Records, Amherst Records 1987
Boogie In Your Butt / Party All The Time (12") Party All The Time Old Gold (2) 1988
Galaxy 500 (CD, Album)   Capitol Records 1988
Homebase (LP, Album) I'm All That Jive 1991
Taking Charge (CD) Bustin' Out Par Records 1991
Whut? Thee Album (LP, Album) Tonight's Da Night Rush Associated Labels 1992
The Hitsound Of Motown (2xCD, Comp) Super Freak Motown 1994
Funky • Stuff! (2xCD, Comp) Give It To Me Baby Polymedia Marketing Group GmbH 1996
Greatest Hits (CD) I Wanna Rock (Radio Ed... Jive 1998
La Légende Des Tubes Volume 27 (CD) Super Freak PolyGram - Kiosks 1998
The Brick Track Versus Gitty Up (CD, Maxi) The Brick Track Versus... Warner Music (Australia) 1999
Headrush (LP, Album) Cold Blooded Erkrankung Durch Musique 2002
Club Culture Club Compilation (Comp) (2 versions) All Night Long 541 2003
Grand 12-Inches (4xCD, Comp) Super Freak (Original ... Sony Music Media, Sony Music Media 2003
The Hard Way (CD, Album) Mary Jane TVT Records (Europe) 2004
Culture Club Vol. 3 (Comp) (2 versions) Cold Blooded 541 2005
One DJ Naughty Night In Berlin (CD, Mixed, Comp, Sli) In My House Eskimo Recordings 2005
Culture Club Volume Five (CD.02) (CD, Mixed, Comp) Give It To Me Baby 541 2006
Kingdom Come (CD, Album, Spe) Kingdom Come Roc-A-Fella Records 2006
Electric Avenue (CD, Comp, Mixed) P.A.T.T. (Fedde Le Gra... Start Stop Records, Digidance 2007
03 - Groove 80 (CD, Comp) Glow/Glow (Reprise) Universal Music (Italy) 2008
100 Hits 2000s (5xCD, Comp) Super Freak Demon Music Group 2008
Tracks Appear On:
The Hitsound Of Motown (2xCD, Comp) Super Freak Motown 1994
Funky • Stuff! (2xCD, Comp) Give It To Me Baby Polymedia Marketing Group GmbH 1996
La Légende Des Tubes Volume 27 (CD) Super Freak PolyGram - Kiosks 1998
Grand 12-Inches (4xCD, Comp) Super Freak (Original ... Sony Music Media, Sony Music Media 2003
Culture Club Vol. 3 (Comp) (2 versions) Cold Blooded 541 2005
Culture Club Volume Five (CD.02) (CD, Mixed, Comp) Give It To Me Baby 541 2006
03 - Groove 80 (CD, Comp) Glow/Glow (Reprise) Universal Music (Italy) 2008
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YouTube Videos

Rick James Glow 1985