From the "Upper Room with Joe Kelley" radio and TV show-
www.upperroomwithjoekelley.com

To the recent mainstream, Rick James was known as the freaky, drug-crazed
musician portrayed in the David Chappelle. But the real funkateers and
musicologists know that Rick James' impact was so much more. I was first
drawn into the punk-funk world of this Buffalo cat with the jam "You and I".
Great dance track and I was intrigued to dig deeper into the Stone City
funk. Took me about 20 years later to figure out the chorus of the ladies in
"You and I" were telling someone to go to.... .

Back in the formative high school years, it was all about Prince, Michael
Jackson, and Rick James. Each had talent in their own right and though they
never claimed it, you always felt they each had their eyes on each other. I
even dressed up as Rick James for a Halloween party back in the late 70s.
Please hide those pictures if they ever surface.

As the 80s began, I finally had a chance to see Rick James in concert. I
bought two tickets to see Rick James at the Hartford Civic Center in
Hartford, Connecticut. Cameo was slated to open up. However, a couple days
before the show, the Civic Center postponed the concert due to a labor
strike with the stage crew union. My brother Jim and I had to wait a few
months and the strike was settled and the funk was on. Cameo tore it up and
Rick James and the Stone City Band took it to a higher level with a live
sound that I had never experience. Ferocious bass, stellar horn sections,
rock guitar and amazing vocals. Rick James was a true performer and played
so many instruments well throughout. There was the big joint being torched
and this crazy light show. The blend of funk and rock and roll was what I
was searching for.

"Street Songs" came out and I had just gotten into the radio business as a
deejay. That summer we wore that record out with not just "Super Freak". We
bumped "Ghetto Live" and "Mr. Policeman" and more to no end. Bridgeport, CT
and this 18 year old kid would never be the same. My next Rick James concert
would be at the Nassau Coliseum in Hempstead, Long Island. I had gotten into
an argument with my girlfriend at the time and she decided to forego the
concert and head into Manhattan to go to Studio 54. A fellow radio dj and I
went instead to the concert and Ray Parker, Jr. opened up. Rick was on his
game and he had a surprise. Teena Marie stepped out and stole the show
during "Fire and Desire" . Talked to my girlfriend the next day and she said
Rick James had stopped into Studio 54 later that night.

My last Rick James show was at the Westbury Music Fair in Long Island. It
was a triple bill: The Stone City Band, Mary Jane Girls, and Rick James.
Lots of funk and the concert was in the round. This night, my girlfriend
attended it with me and really enjoyed the concert. A few years later, my
friend JLB and I went to a lingerie party at a store in Westport, CT. Linda
Blair, who had her own lingerie line that she designed, was making an
in-studio appearance. We spoke about Rick James and I could tell she wished
him all the best and that he could continue to be clean and sober.

Sadly, our musical focus on Rick waned as he fell into drug abuse and legal
woes. The album releases were just few and far between. I cried when I saw
all the troubles Rick was going through. Having been sober since 1991 by the
grace of God, I can empathize with the struggles of drinking and drugging.

I can remember a conversation with my friend Jellybean Johnson of the Time.
He had just seen Rick at a show after his recovery from a stroke. Bean said
that seeing Rick in that condition brought a tear to his eye and that Rick
would never be the same. We were all rooting for Rick James. He was that
special. Sure he made some nonsensical comments about Prince through the
years but I think he admired Prince's talent. Musicians have a knack for
seeing through all the haze to recognize musical greatness.

Today's word of Rick's passing brought more tears and my wife and I talked
about Rick's influence on us as music lovers. This is what we will remember.
The blend of funk and rock, the edginess to his music and concerts, and his
musicianship and voice. Thanks Rick James.

Peace,
Joe Kelley
"Upper Room with Joe Kelley & Gi Dussault"
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[This message was edited Fri Aug 6 21:02:02 2004 by JoeKelley]

I replied 2 this thread i dont know what happened ????

My favorite memory of Rick James was the feud between him and Prince. It wasn't a bullshit dangerous feud like the ones going on between these rappers today. It was a real rivalry between two truly gifted musicians and song writers.....two REAL talents. I think they brought out the best in each other musically until Rick got too far gone in the drugs and Prince was free to go off into La La Land.

Unfortunately, I never got to go to any concert until I finished high school in 1985 and had a car of my own. By that time Rick was going down. Rick came to my city many times. The first time he came with Prince, another time he came with Teena Marie and Cameo, and the last time he came with New Edition. I never had the pleasure of attending any of these concerts but I have heard many rumors about them.

Friends have told me that at the "Fire It Up" concert, Rick James pulled out two big huge joints and yelled "Fire it up dammitt!". Friends have also told me when he came with Teena Marie, that he poured champagne on her leg and licked it off. The funniest I've heard was on one of the shows Rick James and one of the Mary Jane Girls was behind a screen with a light shining through so you could see their shadow. They said the girl got on her knees in front of Rick and Rick held the microphone between his legs while she licked it. They said Rick was so damn high that he stumbled and the microphone swang way out in another direction.

Any1 please post RICK JAMES PICTURE TRIBUTE!!!!

I always wanted to see a collaboration between Prince and Rick James. I mentioned this to Jellybean Johnson on my radio show and we had a fun discussion.