Happy birthday to the vocalist who told us that soul has no color! Born Mary Christine Brockert, Teena Marie was a musical savant who took to singing naturally. By age 2, she could sing Harry Belafonte’s “Banana Boat Song.” Her parents knew their little girl was a songbird, and by 8, she was auditioning. In the following years, Teena Marie would teach herself bass, guitar, and congas. When she landed a small tap-dancing role in “Beverly Hillbillies,” Teena Marie was born. 

Motown Productions put Teena Marie in a film, The Innkeeper, and even though that film didn’t plaster Teena Marie on the big screen, she still caught the attention of Motown founder Berry Gordy Jr. He called her “a discovery of mine… a young, white, talented singer.” A Motown affiliate artist, Ronnie McNeir, said that “God painted her black all up and down her throat.” But it wasn’t until years later, in a chance meeting with the talented bad boy Rick James, that Teena Marie’s undeniable vocals met their match. James began writing for Teena Marie and the rest is incredible audio history as the Ivory Queen of Soul.

In honor of Teena Marie’s birthday, here are 7 songs you should stream.