32 Facts about Funk Legend Rick James

                                     32  interesting facts about funk legend Rick James
                                                        32nd Anniversary of Street Songs

1. He was in a band that consisted of future rock band Steppenwolf (Neil Young included)
2. His name  Rick James (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr) was given to him by an Canadian singer name Shirley Matthews when he was AWOL from the united states army.
3. slept with Super model Janice Dickerson at the infamous Studio 54
4. Dated fellow Motown label mate singer/model Vanity before prince, Vanity left him while on tour with Prince as the opening act, that incident started the Prince vs. Rick James rivalry started!
5. Only slept with one Mary Jane Girl, Maxi B (the white girl)
6. Teen star Linda Blair had an abortion by him, he later penned the song Cold Blooded about her.
7. He introduced OJ Simpson to his  future wife Nicole Brown, after she broke up with his friend Singer, Charlie Wilson. Rick was dating her sister at the time.
8. Enlisted in the Army at 16yrs of age, only to go AWOL and hide out in Canada.
9. Lived briefly with Folk Singer Joanie Mitchell, during his time in Ontario, kept a 30yr secret about her giving up her daughter for adoption.
10. Enter the lifestyle of a pimping, for a short period of time, after being introduced to pimping by friend and singer Jimmy Ruffin, David Ruffin's brother, Rick Pimped white females only in  Toronto Canada during the late 70's!
11. Was married briefly to his first wife, a European model, whom died from cancer.
12. The Colored Girls, was the original name of the Mary Jane Girls, the concept was stolen from him, by princes manager and the next year The Group Vanity 6 came out!
13. Meet his 2nd wife at a Hollywood orgy.
14. Dated Redfoo's of LMAFO mother before she dated  music mogul and Motown founder Berry Gordy.
15. Snorted cocaine with Karate Kid actress Elizabeth Shue.
16. Was engaged to follow Motown artist and protege' Teena Marie for two weeks!
17. Is of  Native American/Indian Heritage on his fathers side
18. Meet friend and Rock legend Steven Tyler in rehab during the 1980's.
19. Saved Eddie Murphy's life during a trip to Buffalo New York, a car almost hit eddies side of the Rose Royce, Rick spurned into quick action and avoided a major accident.
20. Tried to get a very unknown black CEO fired from his job, because he told Rick that he was not "HOT ANYMORE". that CEO later became mega celebrity manager Benny Medina!
21. Met his 3rd wife when she was only 17yrs old.
22. Melvin Franklin of the Legendary Motown group the Temptations is his nephew.
23.  Got into a all out brawl with 12 Middle Eastern Sheiks at a Hollywood night club with children of a lesser god actor Timothy Hutton, who knew they hung out?
24. His best-selling recording, 1981's Street Songs, sold over three million copies helping to renew sagging fortunes in Motown.
25. He was a marijuana and hash dealer, going as far as India to smuggle weed to the US!
26. After failing to report for active duty on the USS Enterprise  he flied to Ontario Canada for two years.
27. Signed with Motown Records twice! first time in 1968, then again 1977, first time he was taken by the FBI, under the alias Rick Matthews.
28. Taco Bell was his favorite Fast Food
29. Fire and Desire was originally recorded with another female singer, he was made at Teena at the time, and didn't want her to appear on the single, after she broke off there engagement.
30. Produce Teena Marie's long-awaited debut album. James originally had planned to produce a full album for Diana Ross but when Motown told him they only wanted four songs he then gave the entire albums material to his protege' Teena Marie! 
31.  James had died from pulmonary failure and cardiac failure with his various health conditions of diabetes, stroke, alprazolam, diazepam, bupropion, citalopram, hydrocodone, digoxin, chlorpheniramine, methamphetamine, viagra, marijuana and cocaine were found in his blood during his autopsy.
32. The saying I'm Rick James Bitch! came from an incident that occurred at The House Of Blues on sunset blvd, during a argument Rick had with a security guard whom refused Rick and his entourage entry into the VIP area backstage. Rick stepped back, and told the lady I'm Rick James Bitch! and then proceeded to slap her and the rest his history!

Bonus: Rick was invited by a friend to party at actress Sharon Tate's Hollywood mansion on the night of August 8, 1969 the night of the Mason Tragedy.