US Singer Teena Marie Dies at 54 – The Grammy-nominated American soul singer Teena Marie has been found dead at her California home at the age of 54. The singer performed on tour last year.

Teena Marie usually worked with funk legend Rick James with hits such as Lovegirl and Fire and Desire. Marie was born Mary Christine Brockert and also used the moniker Lady T. She was a rare white artist on the Motown label when she was signed in the late 1970s. The soul singer has won four Grammy nominations.

Publicist Jasmine Vega and manager Mike Gardner confirmed her death. According to Gardner, Teena Marie has apparently died in her sleep at her home and was found by her daughter.

Her second album carried her picture after fears of a rejection by fans proved unfounded. When she signed to Motown, it was reportedly worried of a fan backlash to the white star and her image did not appear on her first album for the label, Wild and Peaceful.

Teena Marie returned to the spotlight with a comeback album in 2004, and landed one of her Grammy nominations a year later in the best R&B female vocal performance category. She became hugely respected by the black audience and was dubbed the “ivory queen of soul”.

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