# Teena Marie
**Teena Marie**, born Mary Christine Brockert (1956 – December 26, 2010), was an American singer, songwriter, arranger, producer, and multi-instrumentalist who became one of the most successful white artists in rhythm and blues, earning the nickname "the Ivory Queen of Soul."[1](https://www.ccpl.org/sites/default/files/Black-Music-Appreciation-Month-CCPL-Resources.pdf) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2010-12-27/appreciating-teena-marie-the-ivory-queen-of-soul-made-r-b-colorless) Signed to Motown in the late 1970s and mentored by [Rick James](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-james), she scored R&B hits such as "I'm a Sucker for Your Love," "Behind the Groove," "Square Biz," and "Lovergirl," and her contract dispute with Motown produced the Brockert Initiative, a California artists' rights ruling that reshaped recording contracts.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born / died | Mary Christine Brockert, 1956, Santa Monica, California; December 26, 2010, Pasadena, California, at age 54[1](https://www.ccpl.org/sites/default/files/Black-Music-Appreciation-Month-CCPL-Resources.pdf) • [5](https://concord.com/artist/teena-marie/) |
| Breakthrough | Debut album *Wild and Peaceful* (1979), produced by Rick James on Motown's Gordy imprint; its cover showed a seascape rather than her photo[6](https://www.mpcaaca.org/_files/ugd/5a6d69_eb993e2f80074966a2f10c17c2f76dbe.pdf) |
| Signature hits | "I'm a Sucker for Your Love," "Behind the Groove," "I Need Your Lovin'," "Square Biz," "Lovergirl," "Ooo La La La," "Fire and Desire" (duet with Rick James)[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) |
| Legal legacy | The Brockert Initiative (Teena Marie Law) bars a label from keeping an artist under contract while withholding that artist's new recordings[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) |
| Pop peak | "Lovergirl" (1984) was her only Top-20 pop single, reaching the US Top 5[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956) • [7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html) |
| Recognition | Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance (1981); *It Must Be Magic* (1981) was her first gold record[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956) • [6](https://www.mpcaaca.org/_files/ugd/5a6d69_eb993e2f80074966a2f10c17c2f76dbe.pdf) |
| Final albums | *La Doña* (2004), *Sapphire* (2006), and *Congo Square* (2009), all Top Five R&B/hip-hop albums; *Congo Square* peaked at #4 R&B and #20 on the album chart[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) • [8](https://www.teenamarieofficial.com/bio/) |
## Early life
Brockert was born in Santa Monica and raised in the Mission Hills and Venice neighborhoods of Los Angeles, including Oakwood, a working-class area that was one of the city's last historic Black enclaves.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) • [9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-teena-marie-20101228-story.html) She was known by her childhood nickname Tina before taking the stage name Teena Marie.[1](https://www.ccpl.org/sites/default/files/Black-Music-Appreciation-Month-CCPL-Resources.pdf) At the age of eight, in 1964, she tap danced in an episode of *The Beverly Hillbillies*, and in high school she was active in musical theater.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) At 20 she auditioned for Motown Records, which had moved its operations from Detroit to Los Angeles.[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/27/teena-marie-obituary) She was initially signed as part of a group called Entourage, then considered more promising as a soloist.[11](https://classic.motown.com/story/teena-marie-the-story-behind-the-image/)
## Motown and Rick James
For several years after signing, her career stalled in development; a later account describes three years of professional limbo in which the label shelved her recordings.[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) • [12](https://teenamarie.net/) The turning point came through Rick James, Motown's funk star, who took charge of her career and produced her debut album, *Wild and Peaceful*, released on the Gordy imprint in 1979 with his Stone City Band backing her.[13](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/teena-marie) • [1](https://www.ccpl.org/sites/default/files/Black-Music-Appreciation-Month-CCPL-Resources.pdf)
**The hidden cover.** Motown was uncertain how Black listeners would respond to a white singer performing Black music, so the *Wild and Peaceful* sleeve featured a picture of a seascape instead of her, creating a "Who is that?" buzz that helped sales.[6](https://www.mpcaaca.org/_files/ugd/5a6d69_eb993e2f80074966a2f10c17c2f76dbe.pdf) • [2](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2010-12-27/appreciating-teena-marie-the-ivory-queen-of-soul-made-r-b-colorless) The album's duet with James, "I'm a Sucker for Your Love," became her first top-ten R&B hit.[6](https://www.mpcaaca.org/_files/ugd/5a6d69_eb993e2f80074966a2f10c17c2f76dbe.pdf) Her second album, *Lady T* (1980), released on [Valentine's Day](https://www.edgepedia.org/valentines-day) with her face on the cover, was for many listeners the first time they saw the woman behind the music, and it contained the hit "Behind the Groove."[14](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/teena-marie-irons-in-the-fire/)
She came into her own as a writer and producer across her second, third, and fourth albums, *Lady T*, *Irons in the Fire* (1980), and the Grammy-nominated *It Must Be Magic* (1981).[3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) *Irons in the Fire* gave her "I Need Your Lovin'," her first top-40 hit, and *It Must Be Magic*, her first gold record, included "Portuguese Love," "Square Biz," and the title track.[6](https://www.mpcaaca.org/_files/ugd/5a6d69_eb993e2f80074966a2f10c17c2f76dbe.pdf) The duet "Fire and Desire," recorded with James for his *Street Songs* album, solidified her place in the history of R&B music, and "I Got You" was the first song she and James wrote together.[15](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-07-02.pdf) She also became a fixture on *Soul Train*, appearing, by her own recollection, "nine, ten, eleven" times over her career.[14](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/teena-marie-irons-in-the-fire/)
## The Brockert Initiative
Her desire to control her career led to conflict with Motown founder [Berry Gordy](https://www.edgepedia.org/berry-gordy), who refused to release her from her contract yet would not sanction new records by her.[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html) In 1982 she filed a counter-claim in Los Angeles Superior Court against Motown, Jobete Music, and Gordy, charging undue influence, fraud and deceit, and breach of contract, and seeking $45 million in actual and punitive damages.[16](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1982/CB-1982-09-18.pdf) The dispute produced a ruling known as the Brockert Initiative, after her legal surname, which made it illegal for a record company to keep an artist under contract while withholding that artist's new recordings.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956) • [17](https://mccartylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/011511LawCanBeFunky.pdf) The precedent was used by other musicians to secure release from their contracts; Marie herself later credited it with helping artists such as [Luther Vandross](https://www.edgepedia.org/luther-vandross) and the Mary Jane Girls get out of their deals.[10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/27/teena-marie-obituary) • [7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html) She said in 2004, "It wasn't something I set out to do. I just wanted to get away from Motown and have a good life."[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html)
## Epic years and the 1980s hits
After leaving Motown she signed with [Epic Records](https://www.edgepedia.org/epic-records), where she released *Starchild* (1984), containing "Lovergirl," her only Top-20 pop single and a US Top 5 hit.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956) • [7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html) Her pop-chart presence remained limited even as she stayed a staple of Black radio; a 1990 [Billboard](https://www.edgepedia.org/billboard-magazine) profile noted that, unlike many white artists enjoying pop success with R&B-influenced songs, she had difficulty establishing a presence on the pop charts.[18](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-11-03.pdf) In 1988 she scored her first R&B number one with "Ooo La La La," from *Naked to the World*; the Fugees later used the song for the hook of their "Fu-Gee-La."[7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html) • [9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-teena-marie-20101228-story.html) Other Epic-era albums included *Emerald City* (1986), a concept album venturing into rock idioms, and *Ivory* (1990).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956) • [9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-teena-marie-20101228-story.html)
## Later career
She left Epic after *Ivory*, started her own label, Sara, and released *Passion Play* (1994) and *Black Rain* (2000) while concentrating on raising her daughter Alia Rose.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956) • [7](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html) Her comeback album *La Doña* (2004), her first collection of new material in a decade, began a late-career upswing that continued with *Sapphire* (2006) and *Congo Square* (2009), her final album, released on Stax, whose songs were tributes to her idols.[19](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-29-et-teena29-story.html) • [3](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography) • [10](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/27/teena-marie-obituary) She was working on her 14th album, *Beautiful*, for Universal Music Enterprises at the time of her death; it was assembled posthumously by her daughter.[8](https://www.teenamarieofficial.com/bio/) • [20](https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/teena-marie-beautiful/)
## Legacy
Marie's career was defined by her position as a white woman singing historically Black music, a combination that drew sustained commentary. The critic [Robert Christgau](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-christgau), reviewing her early albums, argued she was breaking into R&B because "that's what Motown knows how to do," while a 1989 Los Angeles Times survey of R&B singing held that she deserved to be ranked with the best R&B singers of the 1980s.[21](https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Teena+Marie) • [22](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-02-ca-4856-story.html) Berry Gordy, in a statement after her death, said, "She had so much soul. The only thing white about her was her skin."[9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-teena-marie-20101228-story.html) She described herself in 2009 as "a black artist with white skin."[23](https://time.com/archive/6595083/teena-marie/)
Her influence outlasted her chart run. She became one of the period's most frequently sampled musicians, and her songs have been sampled by acts including the Fugees, Missy Elliott, and [Snoop Dogg](https://www.edgepedia.org/snoop-dogg).[9](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-teena-marie-20101228-story.html) • [24](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/how-allen-mcgrier-brought-his-detroit-swagger-to-young-love-by-teena-marie) Beyoncé's 2022 album *[Renaissance](https://www.edgepedia.org/renaissance-beyonce-album)* credits an interpolation of her 1988 song "Ooo La La La" on the track "Energy."[25](https://time.com/6201966/kelis-beyonce-renaissance-milkshake-interpolation/) Concord Music Group, whose Stax label released her final album, credited her songwriting and showmanship with laying groundwork for future generations of R&B, hip-hop, and soul.[5](https://concord.com/artist/teena-marie/)
## References
1. [Black Music Appreciation Month resources, Charleston County Public Library](https://www.ccpl.org/sites/default/files/Black-Music-Appreciation-Month-CCPL-Resources.pdf)
2. [Appreciating Teena Marie: 'The Ivory Queen of Soul' made R&B colorless, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2010-12-27/appreciating-teena-marie-the-ivory-queen-of-soul-made-r-b-colorless)
3. [Teena Marie Biography by Andy Kellman, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/teena-marie-mn0000018258/biography)
4. [Marie, Teena (1956–), Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/marie-teena-1956)
5. [Teena Marie, Concord](https://concord.com/artist/teena-marie/)
6. [Appropriation as Appreciation, MPCA/ACA paper](https://www.mpcaaca.org/_files/ugd/5a6d69_eb993e2f80074966a2f10c17c2f76dbe.pdf)
7. [Teena Marie obituary by Pierre Perrone, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/news/obituaries/teena-marie-singer-and-songwriter-who-became-motown-rsquo-s-most-successful-white-female-artist-2170291.html)
8. [Bio, Teena Marie: Beautiful, Official Teena Marie Website](https://www.teenamarieofficial.com/bio/)
9. [An Appreciation: Teena Marie, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-teena-marie-20101228-story.html)
10. [Teena Marie obituary, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/dec/27/teena-marie-obituary)
11. [Teena Marie: The Story Behind The Image, Classic Motown](https://classic.motown.com/story/teena-marie-the-story-behind-the-image/)
12. [The Ivory Queen of Soul, feature film and novel project by Joseph Holder](https://teenamarie.net/)
13. [Teena Marie, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/teena-marie)
14. [Teena Marie: Irons in the Fire Album Review, Pitchfork](https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/teena-marie-irons-in-the-fire/)
15. [R&R Urban, July 2, 2004, World Radio History](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Archive-RandR/2000s/2004/RR-2004-07-02.pdf)
16. [Counter-Claim Filed In Marie, Motown Leg, Cash Box, September 18, 1982](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1982/CB-1982-09-18.pdf)
17. [Law Can Be Funky, McCarty Law](https://mccartylaw.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/011511LawCanBeFunky.pdf)
18. [Teena Marie Carves Hit From 'Ivory,' Billboard, November 3, 1990](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1990/BB-1990-11-03.pdf)
19. [Teena Marie remains true to R&B, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-29-et-teena29-story.html)
20. [Review: Teena Marie, Beautiful, Slant Magazine](https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/teena-marie-beautiful/)
21. [Robert Christgau, Consumer Guide: Teena Marie](https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Teena+Marie)
22. [Where Are the Great R&B Singers of Today?, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-07-02-ca-4856-story.html)
23. [Teena Marie, Time archive](https://time.com/archive/6595083/teena-marie/)
24. [How Allen McGrier brought his Detroit swagger to 'Young Love' by Teena Marie, Guitar World](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/bassists/how-allen-mcgrier-brought-his-detroit-swagger-to-young-love-by-teena-marie)
25. [What to Know About Beyoncé's Controversial Interpolation of Kelis' 'Milkshake' on Renaissance, Time](https://time.com/6201966/kelis-beyonce-renaissance-milkshake-interpolation/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B and soul, 1970s and 1980s › Quiet storm and pop R&B*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license