topic Re: Rick James in Community Chat

Rick James

Enufstuff — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 00:07:14 GMT

In watching a couple of documentaries, about Rick James, I discovered some information that I never knew.

Previously, I only knew him from his big hits, "Super Freak" and

"Give it to me Baby".

He was also very talented, playing several instruments and writer for other singers. He wrote for the Mary Jane Girls, The Spinners, The Miracles and The Temptations. Even a song for Eddie Murphy.

His Uncle, Melvin Franklin was in The Temptations.

Another fun fact, in 1980, Prince was the opening act for Rick

James, until things went south between them in 1982.

After their falling out, Prince met Rick's ex, Denise Matthews

(known as Vanity) and she became his girlfriend.

Unfortunately, Rick was involved in drugs and illegal activities and did jail time. His poor health and drug use led to

a stroke, heart problems and his death in 2004.

He was married twice and had three children.

You may already know all this about him, but I only saw this recently.

My favorite was The Purple One. My BFF and I went to a Prince Tribute concert, just before Covid. I wore my Raspberry Beret.

Prince, "Nothing Compares to You". He had it all and he was everything.

Re: Rick James

Mz iMac — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:37:57 GMT

@Enufstuff I knew all that about Rick James. I did watch a documentary about him called, Bitchin': The Sound and Fury of Rick James last year. Pretty good.

Rick James did not go to jail. He went to PRISON! Big difference.

Been a fan of THE PURPLE ONE since he was 14.

Re: Rick James

beckyb1012 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:41:59 GMT

I started thinking of Prince yesterday morning driving to work. Miss him terribly.

Re: Rick James

Enufstuff — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:49:17 GMT

@Mz iMac Ooh, Yeah!

Another fun fact, after my divorce in 1984, eight months later, I met someone who looked just like Prince.

He was from Saudi Arabia. He was small in stature like Prince,

That was fine, I was only 5'1".

He was cute and he wore his hair the way Prince did in 84.

He didn't have that little forehead curl like in your picture.

We would go to the dance clubs in Boston and wherever we went, the clubs or the mall, people would stare. That was how much he resembled Prince.

One day he said to me, "I wish people would stop telling me that I look like Prince."

So I said, "Well, why do you wear your hair the same way?"

Re: Rick James

ninjawife — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:53:16 GMT

I love me some Rick James and his Royal Badness AKA Prince.

Re: Rick James

Mz iMac — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:54:48 GMT

@Enufstuff OMG, lucky you! Where I use to live the father of a Prince imatator lived in my building. When his son came to visit he was always in his Prince guise. People on the eleavator would do the WTF stare.

Re: Rick James

Mz iMac — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 19:59:12 GMT

@Enufstuff I am also a fan of David Chappelle. He did great impersonations of Rick James & Prince when he had his comedy tv series.

"Give it to me, baby"

Re: Rick James

beckyb1012 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:00:37 GMT

That's funny @Mz iMac

(The post about the people in your building)

Re: Rick James

spiderw — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:01:39 GMT

Rick James led quite a life, I saw the documentary that Mz iMac mentioned. I have his albums and love his music. It is always interesting to watch all the documentaries about musicians. I have seen many. But the bottom line is that I loved the music and no matter what happened in their lives, the music is great and lives on.

Re: Rick James

Burnsite — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:24:17 GMT

I met Rick James once, when he was just starting out. In NYC, where I was a grad student. I would take on temporary jobs during breaks and summers. I was placed that summer in the then Gulf+Western building (Central Park West and Columbus Circle) as secretary to the person heading publicity at Paramount in NYC.

I had been warned by my agency that this publicity person was quite difficult, which is why they hired temps. I showed up, and was ordered to arrange for a hot-dog cart to come to the high floor we were on, b/c Rick James was going to give a press conference there, and they were having some kind of press event.

I went down to Central Park and set things up with the frank-purveyor nearest the building; he had done these pressers before.

I knew Rick James's name but not his music, but he was friendly and personable and I bought his album, which was great, because he was so likeable. Was very sorry about his subsequent struggles.

We did not hang out, of course--but I was introduced to him and got a big smile when he saw the Sabrett cart. I loved that job. Something new every day.

Re: Rick James

deepwaterdotter — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:28:18 GMT

@Burnsite With stories like this and your many travels around the globe, I think you should write a book in your retirement. I'd buy one.

Re: Rick James

Enufstuff — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:54:54 GMT

@Mz iMac The other night when I posted my parody song, my son told me about the Rick James videos of Dave Chappelle.

Then he showed them to me. He did a great impersonation. I didn't like the one where he is laying on the white sofa, with dirty boots, and kicking the cushions, making them filthy.

My son thinks that is hliarious. I'll have to check out the videos, impersonating Prince.

If you look at the Controversy album cover, that is exactly what my Rashid looked like. Hair exactly in that style and the moustache.

I started listening to Prince in 1979. I didn't like seeing him in feminine looking lingerie and black stockings, when he did that.

He wasn't classically masculine, but sexy in an odd way, that fit his music, dance moves and his stage presence.

Re: Rick James

Mz iMac — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:30:33 GMT

@spiderw I tend to separate the public (entertainment) life from their private life. But, it does get tricky when they start to "blend" in w/each other.

@Burnsite

@ "frank-purveyor "

Is that what they call the hot dog trucks & carts in NYC?

Re: Rick James

Enufstuff — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:31:18 GMT

@ninjawife I love The Purple One the best.

Re: Rick James

Enufstuff — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:34:00 GMT

@Burnsite Wow ! What an amazing experience. It sounds like you had a very exciting job in New York.

Re: Rick James

Enufstuff — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:39:49 GMT

@Mz iMac What fun! He must have enjoyed freaking people out, unexpectedly. I wonder if anyone asked for his autograph.

Re: Rick James

Mz iMac — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 21:53:09 GMT

@Enufstuff wrote:

I started listening to Prince in 1979. I didn't like seeing him in feminine looking lingerie and black stockings, when he did that.

He wasn't classically masculine, but sexy in an odd way, that fit his music, dance moves and his stage presence.

@Enufstuff He oozed sexyness because he didn't "shave" his chest hair or below (which is obvious on the Dirty Mind album cover).

The first time I saw Prince was at a club & he wore what you see on the DM album cover. At first I thought I was going to see a 1 man strip show since the band was fully clothed & I never saw hairy guys stripping. When the music started, I was like oh, a stripper who can sing & play the guitar before I realized it was Prince.

Re: Rick James

bikerbabe — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 22:05:08 GMT

Prince was a genius and ridiculously sexy. I miss him.

Rick James: he had some great songs, and I always try to separate someone’s artistic talent from their private life but his went downhill, and it’s difficult to ignore the multiple incidents of rape, assault, torture and kidnapping. I think his hardcore drug addiction fried his brain.

Re: Rick James

Mz iMac — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 22:15:27 GMT

@bikerbabe wrote:
I think his hardcore drug addiction fried his brain.

@bikerbabe And his vocal cords. After his prison stint, he could not sing worth a lick! It was horrific actually. Then he had the nerve to go on tour all bloated & such! No wonder his heart gave out.

Re: Rick James

Luvitorleaveit1 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 22:18:23 GMT

Rick James was a great artist that will always be remembered for his music and lifestyle that eventually got the best of him.

Prince was incredible, I still have his first two albums. I had the pleasure of seeing him before he died at Madison Square Garden with Sheila E and Larry Graham. It was awesome and memorable, no one wanted to leave and he kept coming back on stage to perform. He wore us out, what a musical catalog he has. I miss him so much.