Throwback: Happy 70th Birthday, Teena Marie!

It’s March 2026. We’re about to blow through the first third of the year. Things have gotten messier and more hellish. Apparently, we’re now at war. We’ve got masked goons grabbing people off the streets and shooting civilians. The economy is reeling. We’re dealing with a mad, dying king. And yet, we have to simultaneously fight fascists and get on with our daily lives. 

But there’s music, art and community. I hope that this site is a bit of escape and maybe even a reminder of how much community means when the world is running down. The seventh New Colossus Festival takes place this week. And it’ll be a busy week of catching new music, seeing old pals and meeting new ones. So the posts will be a bit sporadic around here but I’ll do what I can to keep the show going.

• The Who frontman  Roger Daltrey celebrated his 82nd birthday on March 1
• The pioneering singer, activist and actor Harry Belafonte was born 99 years ago on March 1
• Karen Carpenter was born 76 years ago on March 2
• Lou Reed, arguably one of the most influential figures of the past 75 years or so was born on this day 84 years ago on March 2
• Tone Lōc celebrated his 60th birthday — yes, y’all 60th! — on March 3
• The legendary soul artist Bobby Womack was born 82 years ago on March 4
• Former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted celebrated his 63rd birthday on March 4

Teena Marie, one of the perhaps most under-appreciated pop and R&B vocalists ever was born on this day 70 years ago. Her work with Rick James is in my book, some of the sexiest and most memorable material ever written.

Tragically, we lost her shortly after we lost Rick James. Both were tragically way too young. But today, let’s celebrate her work today. Happy birthday, Teena! Happy birthday, wherever you are!

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The Joy of Violent Movement is a completely independent and completely D.I.Y. media outlet. Over the course of this site’s 15+ year history, I’ve used my fiercely independent stance to cover music with an eclectic and global perspective that a lot of other publications just don’t have — and will likely never have. 

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