I just found out from the Philadelphia Daily News dated 08-07-2004,that Rick James died of a heart attack.

Ravi Sehgal

It's still hard to believe he's gone . One of my first albums I purchased was '' Bustin out of Lseven (grammar school) 76' , "' I know I probably spelled the name wrong but I guess it does'nt really matter all that much now . I think he and Tina Marie made one of the best songs ever recorded , '' yes'' ,,.'' Fire and Desire '' ,,...My 30 year reunion cannot come quick enuff ,,.. Funk for always Rick ,,....

I had the pleasure of meeting Rick at 54 one nigh and we just keeped running into each other over the years.
He was there when my first after-hours club was "visited" by every city agency one very early morning. Rue Paul was trying to navigate down a ladder that lead to the roof in the highest heals and the smallest skirt. Rue had not hit yet and we both were floored at the site of this until she spoke. What a crazy night. And that just the stuff I can post.
The place filled with more blue uniforms ten you could count and he pulled me to the side asked "what we should do now?"
I paused for a moment to sum up our surrounding and what was going down and said flat out, "let's get the f*** out of here!".
His response was as quick with a "I'm right behind you man!" We made a B line to the door - 5 flight down - all stairs!
When we got out of the building, we jumped into a cab.
About 6 or 7 blocks latter he just flung the door open at a red light, jumped out and got into another cab.

That is a true story.

What a great guy to spend time with.

Peace & Love
Steven S.

I loved Rick James. I remember seeing him at the Philadelphia Spectrum in '81, and he did the damn thing. I always wished I could have had a recording of that show. He and Teena did a version of ''Fire and Desire'' that just had my head messed up for weeks. Patti LaBelle and Sister Sledge came out at the end, plenty of smoke in the air, and he must have rocked us for about three hours and change. People, if you read this, please pick up some of his stuff and remember him more than just for ''I'm Rick James, B-''.

CHARLIE MURPHY.....(LOL) RICK,, YOU WERE THE MAN...REST IN PEACE.

Dude, I had ticket to see the You and I Reunion tour! I was all set to see you! Then it was rescheduled. Then it was canceled. I never got to see you perform live. I bought a single ticket and was all ready to go see the gig myself. Now I won't get to see you perform ever. RIP Rick.

SUPER FREAK was an auto-biographical song that put him on the map forever. I remember him snorting the night away at TUTTLES in Miami, he too was ahead of his time.