Editorial STUFF

As I look forward to 2011 with renewed musical hope, I say 'renewed' because of the now monthly personal reluctance on my part to announce the death of yet another musical great... I have to say 2010 has been especially unkind year for that very reason, and I only hope the Ying to this cruel Yang will right itself in this coming year... So with a heavy sigh, in my last editorial of 2010, I would like to devote my thoughts entirely to the sad loss of R&B legend TEENA MARIE... I interviewed Teena in 2009, in fact when I rang her the first time I woke her up! Due to being jet lagged after making a round trip to attend Michael Jackson's funeral, she asked if I would ring her the following evening... I phoned her back the next night and expected a frosty reception due to the bad timing of the previous call. I had also heard, on my travels, that Marie could be a tough cooke (for want of a better expression) to interview. Instead she was in a slightly upbeat/pensive mood and talked freely about the funeral, reflecting on not only Michael's life, but also her own as she caught up with old friends who were also in attendance - remembering good times, especially her Motown experience, as Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson reminisced with her. She went on to talk about her time at Epic Records where Michael was a label mate, and although not great friends then, a mutual respect grew between the two artists as each was aware of the others input into their chosen genres. With Marie recounting Jackson going out of his way to send her a signed picture of himself from his 'Thriller' period (one of her most prized possessions)... Marie would also talk about the most important person in her life, her daughter Alia Rose, and her hopes for a musical career (I think if I had let her, she could have talked about her daughter for the entire interview, lol)... I think I found the deep spirituality of Marie the most compelling part of the interview and one that I will always remember, as her interest in tracing her roots and bestowing her vast spiritual knowledge onto her kin was so endearing - It was at this part of the interview her other phone rang - She came back to tell me the next interviewer was waiting to talk to her. I said it was a shame, as half an hour had hardly scratched the surface of her rich expanse of a life... "Hold on" she said... Then... "Carry on Lee" she said. "You're right we have only scratched the surface!" That sequence of remarks still makes me laugh as the 'Ivory Queen of Soul' granted me further audience at the expense of another interviewee (Sorry chaps! lol - Ok I'm not! But what a lady!!). For the rest of the interview, about an hour or so more, due to time you'll have to read on this website. I still didn't cover all the questions on my list of 'must asks' - such were the in-depth answers Marie gave that evening. Also, I was saving a few question for her trip here this February, but sadly will now never get to ask!? Good night Lady T - Ground breaking artist, an inspiration to many and a pleasure to interview. The music world was a more palatable place with you in it.B&S