James Ambrose Johnson also known as Rick James was born on February 1, 1948 in Buffalo New York. Best known for his hits Super Freak and Mary Jane, Rick James was a popular American musician and composer in the late 1970s. Inspired my musical geniuses like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson, James Ambrose Johnson will soon become musical sensation Rick James
James Johnson and his seven siblings was raised by a single catholic mother in Buffalo who worked by running numbers for a mob to provide for her family. James ran away from his home and entered the United States Navy at the age of 15. During that time, he also became a drummer for jazz groups in New York City. In love with music, James discovered that his military career collided with his musical desire so he lied about his age to avoid being drafted and was also missing his reserve…
By the early 1990s, Rick James has lost his deal with Warner Brothers and his drug use and personal life was spiraling out of control. Stamped as a convicted felon for assaulting two women with the help of Tanya Hijazi who would later become his wife, he spent two years in prison and paid $2 million in a civil suit. After his release in 1996, he attempted to make a comeback but suffered a mild stroke in 1997 which ended his career.
“My journey has taken me through hell and back. It’s all in my music—the parties, the pain, the oversized ego, the insane obsessions.” Rick James
On August 6, 2004, Rick James was found dead by his caretaker in his home in Los Angeles California after suffering from pulmonary failure and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, a pacemaker, and a heart attack. Although drugs was found in his system during the autopsy they were ruled out as a factor in which resulted in his…