Community Chat

[Enufstuff]

@Mz iMac

   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.

[Mz iMac]

@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.

[beckyb1012]

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

[Enufstuff]

@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?"

[ninjawife]

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

[Mz iMac]

@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.

[Mz iMac]

@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"

[beckyb1012]

That's funny @Mz iMac 

(The post about the people in your building)

[spiderw]

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.

[Burnsite]

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.