Rick James (1948-2004) was born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. in New York City. In his teens he formed the band The Mynah Birds, which also later stars such as Neil Young and Bruce Palmer played a part. When he was fifteen years old, he enlisted in the Naval Service on his musical career, he had to go often absent. He was indicted and fled to Canada. After he successfully got into music, he turned forced
… back to the US and spent some time in jail. After his discharge he went to work at Motown record company, first as a songwriter but later also as a performer. His big breakthrough came with the album Street Songs (1981), in which he profiled himself as an incorrigible party animal, aptly expressed in the text of his biggest hit Super Freak. It proved difficult to meet the extravagant image and Rick James was almost at the bottom of many drugs are associated lifestyle. The success of Street Songs was not able to match more. His only Grammy award was ironically for U Can not Touch This, the remake which rapper MC Hammer made in 1990 Superfreak. Friday, August 6, 2004 Rick James died from complications of a heart attack. He became 56 years.more