Rick James Cause Of Death, How Did Rick James Die?
by Maivizhi A | Updated Mar 14, 2023
Rick James cause of death
The music world was shaken to its core by the sudden passing of Rick James. In the 1980s, he had revolutionized funk music by taking it out of the nightclub and presenting mainstream hits on a platter. With over 10 million records sold, a Grammy Award, and his influence on numerous artists, James had become an icon in his own time. However, his demise came unexpectedly.
On August 6, 2004, James' full-time caretaker discovered him dead in his Hollywood home at the age of 56. Fans who knew of his past drug use feared that he had died of an overdose. While James did have nine different drugs in his system, including cocaine and meth, his cause of death was determined to be a heart attack. The coroner's report indicated that none of the drugs or their combinations were at life-threatening levels. Nevertheless, it's believed that James' long history of drug abuse and the substances in his body contributed to his untimely death.
James' loved ones found closure in the coroner's report, but they were also saddened by the toll that his drug abuse had taken on his body over the years. This is the tumultuous story of how Rick James passed away.
How did Rick James die?
The funk legend, who was 56 years old, passed away in his Los Angeles home due to a heart attack. However, according to a report released on September 16th, 2004, the drugs found in his system were believed to have contributed to the failure of his organ.
He was a diabetes sufferer and had a pacemaker, had been in a delicate state of health since a stroke in 1998. He was most famous for his hit song 'Super Freak' in 1981 and had a history of drug addiction, referring to himself as an "icon of drug use and eroticism."
According to Reuters, the coroner's report indicated that [a] had nine different drugs in his system, including prescription drugs for anxiety, pain relief, and heart failure, as well as cocaine and methamphetamine.
Rick James obituary
Rick James, a colorful figure in black American music, passed away at the age of 56, possibly due to heart failure, at his residence in the Universal City district of Los Angeles. He had a successful career in music, placing 23 songs on the US rhythm and blues charts and selling millions of albums between 1978 and 1988. His music, which celebrated ghetto culture and had hard funk rhythms, laid the foundation for much of 1990s hip-hop.
James was born in Buffalo, New York, the third of eight children, and was introduced to jazz clubs and a wilder side of life by his mother, who was a numbers runner. He ran away to New York City at the age of seven and committed theft, including stealing a bus, due to its size and keys being left in it. James enlisted in the US Naval Reserve at the age of 15, went Awol, and fled to Canada, where he adopted the name Rick James.
He joined the Mynah Birds, a folk-rock band, in Toronto, which included Neil Young and Bruce Palmer, and signed to Motown Records in the mid-1960s, but the band disbanded before anything was ever released, as James found himself in trouble with the military. Based in Los Angeles from the end of the decade, he watched rock and funk evolve. He worked for Motown as a staff songwriter/producer in Detroit before forming the blues band the Main Line in London.
In 1978, James approached Motown owner Berry Gordy with a complete album, Come Get It!, which featured two songs that hit the top of the US R&B charts. He continued to have success with albums like Bustin' Out Of L Seven, Fire It Up, and Street Songs, the latter of which achieved double-platinum status and stayed on the US Top 100 Album chart for 54 weeks.
Although James talked about Rick James being a character he played on stage, he became absorbed by the persona, and his career and life went into a tailspin. He faced serious conflict with Motown after releasing The Flag in 1986 and left the label to sign with Reprise Records, where he achieved a R&B No 1 in 1988 with Loosey's Rap. James sued MC Hammer after the rapper used the instrumental track from Super Freak for his hit U Can't Touch This, winning a credit and a Grammy as co-writer.
In 1991, James was arrested for holding a woman against her will and forcing her to engage in sex with his girlfriend during a six-day crack cocaine binge. He was jailed for two years after a second assault and returned as a chastened character, visibly affected by his lifestyle. James released the Urban Rapsody album in 1997, but it failed to find an audience. He suffered a stroke during his comeback tour in 1998 and required hip replacement surgery. He also suffered from diabetes and had a pacemaker.
James is survived by a daughter and two sons, as he remained unmarried.
What did Rick James Die from?
According to one of James' producers who spoke with a source, the cause of the singer's death was a heart attack. Neil Portnow, the president of the Recording Academy responsible for the Grammy Awards, expressed his condolences, describing James as a talented musician and performer. The medical condition known as a heart attack is a serious emergency that occurs when blood flow to the heart is obstructed by a blood clot. This can cause tissue damage due to lack of oxygen, leading to symptoms such as chest pain, fatigue, abnormal heartbeat, lightheadedness, and anxiety. Women may experience atypical symptoms compared to men. Treatment options for a heart attack include changes in lifestyle, cardiac rehabilitation, medication, stents, and bypass surgery.
Rick James Cause Of Death-FAQs
Rick James was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s, revolutionizing funk music and becoming an icon of his time.
Rick James died on August 6, 2004, at the age of 56 due to a heart attack. While he had a history of drug abuse and had several drugs in his system, none of them were at life-threatening levels.
Rick James had several hit songs, including "Super Freak," "Give It to Me Baby," "Mary Jane," and "You and I."
Yes, Rick James had a long history of drug abuse, which he openly talked about. He struggled with addiction to cocaine and other substances for many years, which ultimately contributed to his death.
No, Rick James was not married at the time of his death. He is survived by a daughter and two sons.