Singer Teena Marie Dies

Square Biz. Lovergirl. Fire & Desire. Portuguese Love. All these songs were popular R&B hits by singer Teena Marie. She died yesterday, December 26, 2010, at age 54. Teena Marie was born Mary Christine Brockert, and grew up in the Oakwood section of Venice, California.

Teena Marie found her music more popular with Black audiences than with White audiences. Her soulful style made her one of the few White performers to consistently scores hits on the R&B chart, finally topping the it in 1988 with her #1 hit "Ooo La La La". She signed with Motown Records in 1980, and became a protege of funk legend Rick James. Teena Marie described her ethnic heritage as Portuguese, Italian, Irish and American Indian.

Where Portuguese-Americans live