Teena Marie is known for many things; she is known as a producer, singer and songwriter. Prior to taking on the stage name Teena Marie she was Mary Christine or simply as tine. Little would one have expected that Tina who was born into the home of a construction worker and home renovator who end up on the stage. It was not really surprising when Tina made an extra into the world of music as from the tender age of two she could perform the banana Boat song. As she grew older, the singing voice which she attributes as a natural gift from God got better and more fine-tuned.
Right from her early age, she was unconsciously been prepared for life on the stage as a singer and a songwriter. She grew up in a Roman Catholic home and was privileged to be taught the use of the piano by two nuns. She proceeded on to teach herself how to play the guitar. As early as 8 years old, her parents notice her potentials and send her out to as many auditions has she could possibly make. This is what got her into acting. Even at the tender age of ten when Jerry Lewis’s son was getting married, she was there entertain the guest with her god gift voice. She went on to form a small band of R&B with her brother and a cousin.
In high school, Teena Marie was actively involved in the summer dance and also took a lead role in its production. When she graduated from high school, she went to Santa Monica College where she studied English Language. Writing and reading were her hobbies and she is today remembered especially for her lyrics.
Tina began her career in 1976, when she put together a band together with her friend Mickey Boyce. She got an introduction to Davis Hal which opened the door for an audition for a movie that was centered on orphans. The contract for the movie did not get to hold as the entire project was put aside. Her unique voice made her get Berry Gordy to sign her for a solo act. This is how she got lunched into her music career and eventually released albums made it into the top ten list of the R&B list.
Although Teena Marie, never got married she had a daughter, she too took in line with her mother and at the age of 18 sang with the name Rose LeBeau.
Marie suffered from a seizure in the last years of her life which was as a result of a large frame of picture that fell on her while she was sleeping in a hotel room in 2004. She continually went in out of seizures until the day she breathed her last.
Her daughter, Alia Rose, was the first person to discover her death on the 26th of December 2010. She died in her home. After an autopsy was carried out on her 4 days later, it was concluded that she died a peaceful and natural death.