That same year, James formed The Mynah Birds, a band that produced a fusion of soul, folk and rock music. To evade US military authorities, James went under the assumed name "Ricky James Matthews". Helm invited James to their show later that night and he ended up performing onstage with the band. One of them, Levon Helm, was at the time a member of Ronnie Hawkins' backing band. Soon after his arrival three drunk men tried to attack him outside a club a trio of other men came to his aid. His mother was a dancer for Katherine Dunham, and later worked as a cleaner in the day, and as a numbers-runner for the Buffalo crime family at night to earn a living. James's father, an autoworker, left the family when James was 10. He was an altar boy and choir member at St. Johnson was born on February 1, 1948, in Buffalo, New York, to Mabel (née Sims) and James Ambrose Johnson Sr. He died later that year from heart failure at age 56. This resulted in renewed interest in his music and that year he returned to perform on the road. The segment involved a Charlie Murphy True Hollywood Stories-style skit that satirized James's wild lifestyle in the 1980s. In 2004, James's career returned to mainstream pop culture after he appeared in an episode of Chappelle's Show. His health problems halted his career again after he had a mild stroke during a concert in 1998, and he announced a semi-retirement. In 1993, he was convicted of two separate instances of kidnapping and assaulting two different women while under the influence of crack cocaine, resulting in a three-year sentence at Folsom State Prison. By the early 1990s, James's career was hampered by his drug addiction and he was embroiled in legal issues. James received his only Grammy for composing the song. Rapper MC Hammer sampled James's "Super Freak" for his 1990 hit, " U Can't Touch This" which won Best R&B Song at the 1991 Grammy Awards. His subsequent album releases failed to sell as well as their predecessors. James's mainstream success had peaked by the release of his album Glow in 1985 and his appearance on the popular TV show, The A-Team. He also had a successful career as a songwriter and producer for other artists including Teena Marie, the Mary Jane Girls, the Temptations, Eddie Murphy, and Smokey Robinson. James was also known for his soulful ballads such as "Fire & Desire" and " Ebony Eyes". In 1981, James released his most successful album, Street Songs, which included career-defining hits such as " Give It to Me Baby" and " Super Freak", the latter song becoming his biggest crossover single, mixing elements of funk, disco, rock, and new wave. After being released, James moved to California, where he started a variety of rock and funk groups in the late 1960s and early 1970s.Īfter forming the locally popular Stone City Band in his hometown of Buffalo in 1977, James finally found success as a recording artist after signing with Motown's Gordy Records, releasing the album Come Get It! in 1978 which produced the hits " You & I" and " Mary Jane". James's career with the group halted after military authorities discovered his whereabouts and eventually convicted him of desertion related charges. In 1964, James moved to Toronto, Canada, where he formed the rock band the Mynah Birds, who eventually signed a recording deal with Motown Records in 1966. Navy Reserve to avoid being drafted into the army. He was in various bands before entering the U.S. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, James began his musical career in his teenage years. (Febru– August 6, 2004), better known by his stage name Rick James, was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer.
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