Teena Marie (March 5, 1956 – December 26, 2010) was an American singer, songwriter and producer. Marie, nicknamed Lady Tee, (sometimes spelled Lady T), was a protégée of funk legend Rick James, and was notable as one of the few successful white performers of R&B. She played rhythm guitar, keyboards and congas. She also wrote, produced, sang and arranged virtually all of her songs since her 1980 release, Irons in the Fire, which she said was her favorite album. She had a daughter, Alia Rose, who, as of 2009, sang under the name Rose LeBeau. Marie died of natural causes on Sunday, December 26, 2010, at home in Pasadena, California.