::: CeCe Cole, President- The Official Website of Silke Endress, Lifestyle of the Lady CEO, International Professional Women's Magazine :::

Teena Marie's last album, "Congo Square," was titled after a historical meeting place for slaves in New Orleans, featured a tribute to Martin Luther King's widow and also song "Black Cool," written for President Barack Obama.

Born Mary Christine Brockert (March 5, 1956 - December 26, 2010) was a protégée of funk legend Rick James. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards, and congas. She also wrote, produced, sang, and arranged virtually all of her songs since her 1980 release, Irons in the Fire, which she said was her favorite album. She had a daughter, Alia Rose, who, as of 2009, sang under the name Rose LeBeau. Marie died of natural causes on Sunday, December 26, 2010, at home in Pasadena, California.

No matter that Marie, 54, was white. The R&B legend revered and fully immersed herself in black culture - and in turn was respected and adored by black audiences, not only for her immense soulful talents, but for her inner soul as well.

The R&B legend revered and fully immersed herself in black culture - and in turn was respected and adored by black audiences, not only for her immense soulful talents, but for her inner soul as well.

"Overall my race hasn't been a problem. I'm a Black artist with White skin. At the end of the day you have to sing what's in your own soul," she told Essence.com in an interview last year while promoting "Congo Square." That album would turn out to be her last.

The self-proclaimed "Ivory Queen of Soul," whose many classic hits included "Lovergirl," Square Biz" and the scorching duet "Fire and Desire" with mentor Rick James was an inspiration to all.