Teena Marie
Teena Marie | |
|---|---|
Marie in 1983 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Mary Christine Brockert |
| Also known as | Tina, Lady T |
| Born | March 5, 1956 Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
| Died | December 26, 2010 (aged 54) Pasadena, California, U.S. |
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| Instruments |
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| Years active | 1964–2010 |
| Labels | |
| Website | teenamarie |
Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010), known professionally as Teena Marie, was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter, and producer. She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the stage name Teena Marie and later acquired the nickname Lady T, given to her by her collaborator and friend Rick James.
She was known for her distinctive and soulful soprano vocals, which caused many listeners to believe she was black. Her success in R&B and soul music, and loyalty to these genres earned her the title Ivory Queen of Soul. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards, and congas. Teena Marie was a 4 time Grammy Award nominee, winning posthumously in 2023 for Best R&B Song for co-writing "Cuff It".