R&B legend Teena Marie has died, Washington Watch host Roland Martin has confirmed.
Reports of her untimely death spread online after a tweet from Ronald Isley. The soul crooner wrote: “Just found out a friend, Teena Marie passed away. I really didn’t expect to hear this. RIP. We will miss you much!”
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Soon after a back and forth about her death erupted with various stars like LisaRaye and Kym Whitley saying that Teena was in fact alive.
However, as the minutes went on reporter Roland Martin confirmed with Teena’s manager, Mike Gardner, that the singer passed at the age of 54.
Philadelphia radio station WDAS first reported the story on the airwaves.
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Sheila E. shared a few scarce details of how Teena’s daughter, Alia Rose, discovered her mother’s dead body.
Sheila wrote:
“Her daughter found her in her bedroom already passed. she had seizures prior to this passing. please pray for her family.
They just took her body from her home. Teena Marie found dead by her daughter whose BD was yesterday. pray 4 her & her family.”
The protégé of the late Rick James has been an R&B staple since the debut of her 1980 release, Irons in the Fire.
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She was heralded for her work as a songwriter, musician, and arranger. Teena was also credited by many for rapping on her own records, believed to have helped usher hip-hop into mainstream R&B.
As of now no further details about her death have surfaced.
Breaking news, December 26, 8:22 p.m. ET:
There are several reports that R&B star, Teena Marie has died. WDAS in Philadelphia has reported her death and Birdman of Cash Money Records has also said she has passed away via Twitter. Details will be posted as soon as they come in.
