Funk legend Rick James dies at 56

Jet, August 23, 2004

Singing funk legend Rick James, best known for his 1981 hit Super Freak, died recently at his California home. He was 56.

James, a diabetic with a pacemaker, died in his sleep at his residence near Universal City, said publicist Sujata Murthy. He lived alone and was found by his personal assistant, who notified police, she said.

At JET press time, an autopsy failed to determine the official cause of death, which was originally said to have been from natural causes. Through a spokeswoman his daughter, Ty, and sons Rick Jr. and Tazman, said that they believe their father died of heart failure.

James, born James A. Johnson Jr. in Buffalo, NY, on Feb. 1, 1948, was a visionary who in the late '70s put his personal spin on funk music, which he referred to as "punk-funk," with such hits as You and I and Mary Jane.

In the '80s James, recognized for his thigh-high boots and shoulder-length braids, continued topping the charts with Cold Blooded, Give It To Me Baby, Ebony Eyes, a duet with Smokey Robinson, and one of his most-remembered songs Super Freak. Ten years later the baseline of the smash hit was sampled by rapper MC Hammer for his song U Can't Touch This. The hit earned James and Hammer a Grammy Award for best R&B song in 1990.

The musician, singer, composer and producer was responsible for launching the careers of his female group the Mary Jane Girls (All Night Long), and noted R&B singer Teena Marie, with whom he recorded the sultry classic Fire & Desire. James and Marie recently performed and toured together last year and this summer.

James' claim to fame started to fade during the '90s as he became embroiled in legal problems, drugs and health troubles.

In 1993 he was convicted of assaulting two women. The first attack occurred in 1991 when he reportedly restrained and burned a woman with a hot pipe during a cocaine binge in his Hollywood home. He was free on bail when the second assault occurred in 1992 in his hotel room. He was sentenced to more than two years in state prison.

In 1997 he released a new album, but a year later he suffered a stroke while he performed at Denver's Mammoth Events Center, derailing a comeback tour. In 1998 he underwent hip replacement surgery.

James recently enjoyed a bit of a revival in part because of comedian Dave Chappelle's portrayal of him on "Chappelle's Show." James himself appeared on the Comedy Central skit.

According to Murthy, James was not married. He is survived by his daughter, two sons and two granddaughters.