Music
Rick James
1948–2004 · singer, songwriter, producer
Funk star of “Super Freak” and “Mary Jane,” who first came to Detroit's Motown in 1966 with the Mynah Birds and later wrote and produced there as Ricky Matthews.
- Born
Buffalo, New York- Died
Los Angeles, California
aged 56- Birth name
- James Ambrose Johnson Jr.
- Also known as
- Ricky Matthews · King of Punk Funk
- Detroit years
- 1966, 1968
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Long before his funk hits, Rick James had a turbulent apprenticeship at Motown in Detroit. After leaving the U.S. Naval Reserve without permission he moved to Toronto, where his rock band the Mynah Birds, which briefly included Neil Young, signed with Motown in 1966. The band traveled to Detroit to record, and there James met his heroes Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. When Motown learned that he was a fugitive from the Navy, it shelved the recordings and told him to settle his legal problems first. After serving his sentence he came back in 1968 and, under the name Ricky Matthews, wrote and produced songs at Motown for the Miracles, Bobby Taylor & the Vancouvers and the Spinners. His breakthrough came a decade later on Motown's Gordy label with Come Get It! (1978), followed by “Give It to Me Baby” and “Super Freak.”
Highlights
- Signed to Motown in 1966 as leader of the Mynah Birds, with Neil Young
- Wrote and produced at Motown in 1968 as Ricky Matthews
- Come Get It! (1978) sold a million copies on Motown's Gordy label
- “Super Freak” (1981) became his signature song
- Duet “Ebony Eyes” (1983) with Smokey Robinson
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Recorded here · 1966, 1968
Motown Museum
Motown's Detroit headquarters and studio, where the Mynah Birds recorded in 1966 and where he worked as a writer-producer in 1968.