The Tragic Life, Drugs, and Death of Disco Musician Rick James ("Super Freak"): 20 Yeas Later

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It’s been twenty years since the tragic demise of African-American musician Rick James on August 6, 2004. James found fame at the height of the Disco era in the late 1970s. His first of several benchmark hits was “You and I,” from the album Come Get It!, was the first in a long string of hits. Subsequent signature hits included “Super Freak.” In the late 1990s, James, who was only 56 when he died, struggled with substance abuse and was imprisoned for sexual assault. This is his story.

A Closer Look

Rick James was born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr. on February 1, 1948, in Buffalo, New York. James, the third of eight children, was raised in a strict Catholic household by his single mother. He followed in the musical footsteps of his uncle, Melvin Franklin, a bass vocalist of The Temptations, after exiting the U.S. Naval Reserve to Toronto, Ontario, in 1964.

Mynah Accomplishments

Rick James' initial band, The Mynah Birds, included future Buffalo Springfield members Neil Young and Bruce Palmer, and other groupings followed.

In 1977, he was living but then went solo to Motown. By the early 1990s, his struggles with cocaine intensified.

Into that horrific mix, he was convicted of assaulting two women, spent two years in prison, and paid $2 million in a civil suit.

In 1995, James was released from prison and tried to get back on the charts. But two years later, he suffered a mild stroke, and his career was over.

On August 6, 2004, James died after suffering pulmonary and cardiac failure at his home in Burbank, California.

In the End

Rick James was one of the most unique performers in the history of entertainment. He had a brand of style and song that stood out beyond the world of disco.

Unfortunately, like all too many singers, actors, dancers, and others in the creative field, James found that life in the spotlight does not guarantee a long, happy existence.

However, James’ music will forever be in the hearts and minds of his countless fans worldwide.