Comments (0)
Print
On this date in 1948, James Ambrose Johnson Jr. was born in Buffalo, NY. Best known for his contributions to 70s and early 80s funk music, he had four No. 1 hits on the R&B charts.
He also produced songs for Smokey Robinson, Eddie Murphy, The Temptations and others.
He won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song but he had to sue MC Hammer to get credit for his contribution to "U Can't Touch This" as Hammer had sampled his 1981 song "Super Freak."
Years of drug abuse had compromised his health and Rick James died in 2004 of heart failure at the age of 56.
James would have been 65 today.
Steve Douglas, Afternoon Host
0 Comments | Join the conversation »
