Difference between revisions of "Rosie Gaines"
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|artist image = [[File:Rosie-gaines-thumb.gif|200px]] | |artist image = [[File:Rosie-gaines-thumb.gif|200px]] | ||
|birth name = Rosie Mary Gaines | |birth name = Rosie Mary Gaines | ||
− | |birth date = 26 June 1960: | + | |birth date = 26 June 1960: Pittsburg, CA, USA |
|activity = Singer, Vocalist, Keyboard player. | |activity = Singer, Vocalist, Keyboard player. | ||
|endorsement(s) = | |endorsement(s) = | ||
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|next bio = [[Brian Gallagher]] | |next bio = [[Brian Gallagher]] | ||
<!-- BIOGRAPHY --> | <!-- BIOGRAPHY --> | ||
− | |introduction = Rosie Gaines is an American singer and musician | + | |introduction = Rosie Gaines is an American singer and musician. After releasing her first album [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caring_(album) Caring], she was hired by [[Prince]] as a singer, vocalist and keyboard player for the [[Nude Tour]] in 1990. She was a member of the original line-up of [[The NPG|The New Power Generation]] formed in 1991. [[Prince]] called her his “secret weapon”. She continued her solo career after leaving the band by releasing six albums. Her most notable hit is "Closer Than Close" released in a remixed form in 1997. |
− | |early life = Originally from | + | |early life = Originally from Pittsburg, California and the younger daughter of ten children, Rosie Gaines began singing at the age of five. Her father was stabbed to death when she was only four years-old. She had a daughter, Latoya, at the age of thirteen. |
− | |before working w/prince = She began her musical career in the 1980s by participating in various bands ("Unity", "A Touch Of Class" and "The Oasis") between her hometown and Oakland, California. She joined a band lead by Curtis Ohlson ( | + | |before working w/prince = She began her musical career in the 1980s by participating in various bands ("Unity", "A Touch Of Class" and "The Oasis") between her hometown and Oakland, California. She joined a band lead by Curtis Ohlson (former bass player of Ray Charles and Buddy Rich, with whom she was married for two years), in which [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] also performed as a guitarist. |
− | With [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Cornelius Don Cornelius] as manager and executive producer, they all worked together on Rosie’s first album: "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caring_(album) Caring]", released in 1985 by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records Epic Records]. Its single, "Skool-ology" was a minor success (75th place in the R&B charts) but the album flopped. Later in the year, Levi left Curtis Ohlson’s band to join Sheila E. and then [[Prince]] subsequent years. Rosie continued to work with Curtis Ohslon, who will release two albums on which she added some vocals: "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/so-fast-mw0000194743 So Fast]" in 1987 and "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/better-than-ever-mw0000199378 Better Than Ever]" in 1989. | + | With [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Cornelius Don Cornelius] as manager and executive producer, they all worked together on Rosie’s first album: "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caring_(album) Caring]", released in 1985 by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records Epic Records]. Its single, "Skool-ology" was a minor success (75th place in the R&B charts) but the album flopped. Later in the year, Levi left Curtis Ohlson’s band to join [[Sheila E.]] and then [[Prince]] subsequent years. Rosie continued to work with Curtis Ohslon, who will release two albums on which she added some vocals: "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/so-fast-mw0000194743 So Fast]" in 1987 and "[http://www.allmusic.com/album/better-than-ever-mw0000199378 Better Than Ever]" in 1989. |
− | Rosie Gaines plays and becomes an attraction at local venues as Earle’s Solano Club, Yoshi’s and the Great American Music Hall. A second solo album | + | Rosie Gaines plays and becomes an attraction at local venues as Earle’s Solano Club, Yoshi’s and the Great American Music Hall. A second solo album, in collaboration with Curtis Ohlson and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Moten Patrick Moten] was finalized and ready for release in 1987 but its release was canceled due to management changes at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epic_Records Epic]. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Sweeter_Love No Sweeter Love] would finally be released in 2000. |
− | After divorcing | + | After divorcing Curtis Ohlson, Rosie married Dutch songwriter Francis Jules. |
− | |work w/prince = In December 1989, while working on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pointer_Sisters Pointer Sisters]' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Rhythm Right Rhythm] album at [[Paisley Park Studios|Paisley Park]], [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] called Rosie to put her voice on a title written by [[Prince]] for the group: [[I Want U]]. This song will not be retained for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Rhythm Right Rhythm] which will be released in 1990, produced | + | |work w/prince = In December 1989, while working on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pointer_Sisters Pointer Sisters]' [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Rhythm Right Rhythm] album at [[Paisley Park Studios|Paisley Park]], [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]] called Rosie to put her voice on a title written by [[Prince]] for the group: [[I Want U]]. This song will not be retained for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Rhythm Right Rhythm] which will be released in 1990, half-produced by [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]]. But [[Prince]], having attended the session, was overwhelmed by Rosie’s voice. He invites her to put her vocals on the songs [[New Power Generation]], [[Diamonds And Pearls]] and some songs intended for [[Elisa Fiorillo|Elisa Fiorillo]]'s [[Album: I Am|I Am]] album. He also asks Rosie to join his new band in anticipation of his upcoming [[Nude Tour]], as a replacement for [[Boni Boyer]], whom left the band following the [[Lovesexy Tour]]. Subsequently she also appears in the film [[Film: Graffiti Bridge|Graffiti Bridge]] as a band member. |
− | During the [[Nude Tour]], Rosie showed her vocal abilities on many songs ranging from rhythm and blues (Aretha Franklin’s [[Respect]] and [[Ain't No Way]]), rap ([[It Takes Two]] by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock | + | During the [[Nude Tour]], Rosie showed her vocal abilities on many songs ranging from rhythm and blues (Aretha Franklin’s [[Respect]] and [[Ain't No Way]]), rap ([[It Takes Two]] by Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock to Janet Jackson’s [[What Have You Done For Me Lately]]. One of her unreleased songs [[Let's Jam It]] was also incorporated in the show. Many songs were recorded during this tour for [[Prince]]’s next album ([[Album: Diamonds And Pearls|Diamonds And Pearls]]) and the idea of a solo album for Rosie - [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]], based on a title by her idol [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley Bob Marley] - began to emerge with the recordings of songs like [[Streetwalker]], [[My Tender Heart|My Tender Love]] (which became [[My Tender Heart]]), [[Pain]], [[Hold Me]], and [[Turn Your Lights Down Low]], a cover of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley Bob Marley] song. In the meantime two singles "Hard Work" and "Clean Up Woman", recorded by Rosie before she joined [[Prince]] were released by an obscure label without her consent. |
+ | A few weeks after the end of the [[Nude Tour]], Rosie opens Prince's nightclub the [[Venue:_Glam_Slam|Glam Slam]] with first of three concerts in October 1990. She made the cover of the January 1991 ''Keyboard Magazine'' issue with Matt Fink, before a band reconstruction and renamed [[The NPG|The New Power Generation]] with the arrival of Sonny T. and Tommy Barbarella. More studio works followed with the recording of songs for [[Album: Diamonds And Pearls|Diamonds And Pearls]] and her solo album (planned to be titled [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]]. Together with her husband, Francis Jules and [[Prince]], she composed [[The Voice]] and [[I Hear Your Voice]] (planned for her solo album but later offered to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_LaBelle Patti Labelle] respectively). The album [[Album: Diamonds And Pearls|Diamonds And Pearls]] is released in October 1991, and is the first credited to [[Prince]] & [[The NPG | The New Power Generation]]. Rosie Gaines is highlighted on more than half of the album with her singing, rapping and co-writing. She is given an important place in the videos and the tour that followed the album, but behind the scenes, she suffered the bullying of some members of the band who, like during the [[Nude Tour]], seemed to resent her prominent role on stage. She became increasingly frustrated by the income she earned, while she had a family to support. She also had a falling-out with [[Prince]] when he discovered that she approached record companies for a possible contract. Rosie Gaines quit [[The NPG|The New Power Generation]] after the [[Diamonds And Pearls Tour]] but stayed in [[Prince]]’s camp, hoping to release her album on [[Paisley Park Records]]. | ||
− | + | She continued to work on songs with Ricky Peterson as the producer and wrote more songs with Francis Jules as [[Prince]] was busy with many other projects that also needed his attention ([[File:Symbolblue.png|link=Album: Symbol]], albums for [[Album: The Voice|Mavis Staples]], [[Album: Carmen Electra|Carmen Electra]] and [[The NPG]]’s [[Album: Gold Nigga|Gold Nigga]] among others). She reworked old songs ([[I Want U]] and [[My Tender Heart]]) and continued to record new songs, including one offered by [[Prince]] ([[Extraordinary]]) but the release date of [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]] on [[Paisley Park Records]] is pushed back several times. [[My Tender Heart]], planned as the [[Single: My Tender Heart|first single]], was performed on[[TV Special: The Ryde Dyvine|The Ryde Dyvine]] TV special at the end of 1992, suggesting a release of [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]] for 1993. | |
+ | But in early 1993, it was [[Carmen Electra]]'s album that came out after six months of delay, Warner's reticence [[Prince]]'s forcing and a disproportionate budget. It is a commercial and critical failure. Albums by [[Album: The Voice|Mavis Staples]], [[Album: Hey Man... Smell My Finger|George Clinton]] and [[Eric Leeds]] ([[Album: Things Left Unsaid|Things Left Unsaid]]) followed, without any significant commercial impact. After multiple configurations, a firm and final date for [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]] on [[Paisley Park Records]] is announced for March 22, 1994..., but the release never comes to fruition after the label folds in February. | ||
+ | [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]] was at that point supposed to contain 13 songs: [[I Want U]] (Inner City Blue) / Goo gaga (Making It Up As We Go Along) / Ooh La La / [[My Tender Heart]] / [[Hit U In The Socket]] / Do What You Wanna Do / Concrete Jungle / Get The Ghetto Off Your Mind / JAH Love / The Bitch / In The Middle Of The Garden / I Almost Lost You / Play That Beat. [[Prince]] wrote [[I Want U]], [[My Tender Heart]] and [[Hit U In The Socket]]. Rosie wrote (or co-wrote with Francis Jules) the other songs except for the title track (a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley Bob Marley] song). | ||
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− | + | |after working w/prince = After leaving the [[Prince]] camp, Rosie worked on the album further, adding some new songs and removing others. Without a label, she tried unsuccessfully to release that album, now called [[Album: Try Me|Try Me]] in 1994 but gained interest from Motown. In 1995, after further work and changes, Rosie Gaines finally releases her second solo album, now called [[Album: Closer Than Close|Closer Than Close]], ten years after "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caring_(album) Caring]". | |
− | [[Album: | + | |
− | + | [[Album: Closer Than Close|Closer Than Close]] contains eight tracks written by the trio of Rosie Gaines, Francis Jules and Dana Bailey, two covers of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley Bob Marley] ([[Turn Your Lights Down Low]] and Concrete Jungle), and two songs by [[Prince]] ([[I Want U]] and [[My Tender Heart]]). More than half of the tracks on [[Album: Closer Than Close|Closer Than Close]] comes various configurations of [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]]: ([[Turn Your Lights Down Low]], [[I Want U]], Googaga, Oooh La La, [[My Tender Heart]], I Almost Lost You, Concrete Jungle, Get The Ghetto Off Your Mind). | |
+ | The album did not gain a lot of attention, but the single "Closer Than Close" was released to some success in its remixed version two years later. The song would reach the 4th place in the UK and became a dance-club favorite. Many dance remixes by various DJs would be produced with varying interest. Despite the success of the song (almost one million copies sold), Rosie Gaines had to launch a legal action against Peter Williamsons and his label Big Bang Records. The case went nowhere as Peter Williamson was already in jail serving a five-year sentence for theft. The other two singles [[Single: I Want U|I Want U]] and "Are You Ready" would have a much more moderate success. Over twenty remixes of [[I Want U]] would also be made by outside producers. A video for [[My Tender Heart]] exists, shot while Gaines was still on [[Paisley Park Records]], but the song was not released as a single. | ||
− | + | Rosie Gaines continued to work on and off with [[Prince]] throughout the years, adding her vocals for the album [[Album: Chaos And Disorder|Chaos And Disorder]], [[Jam Of The Year]] on [[Album: Emancipation|Emancipation]] and the [[Single: 1999: The New Master|1999: The New Master]] single and guests on stage with him occasionally between 1998 and 2001. | |
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− | + | In 1997, Rosie Gaines creates her own independent label (Dredlix Records) and opens her own website to distribute her music, www.rosiegaines.com (now closed). Her third official solo album in February 1997, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(Rosie_Gaines_album) Arrival]" with 10 songs composed by her with Dana Bailey and her husband Francis Jules (the trio being called the Dredlix team). Two singles would be released from that album "Stomp" and "Do Not Let'Em". The latter would be rerecorded by [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bootsy_Collins Boosty Collins] in 2002 with Rosie Gaines and [https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_Dogg Snoop Dogg] for his album [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Play_with_Bootsy Play with Bootsy: A Tribute to the Funk]. "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(Rosie_Gaines_album) Arrival]" would be pressed on CD with 2,000 copies made and sold exclusively on her website in 2002. | |
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− | In 1997, Rosie Gaines creates her own independent label (Dredlix Records) and opens her own website to distribute her music, www.rosiegaines.com (now closed). Her third official solo album in February 1997, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(Rosie_Gaines_album) Arrival]" with 10 songs composed by her with Dana Bailey and her husband Francis Jules (the trio being called the Dredlix team). Two singles | + | |
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− | + | [[Exploding All Over Europe]], written by [[Prince]] and [[Ingrid Chavez]] in 1990 and remixed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Vasquez Junior Vasquez] was offered for download through Gaines' website. She also offered other unreleased songs and versions, including the original (Paisley Park version) of [[I Want U]]. Many remixes or collaborations with artists in the house scene help her to keep a relative exposure at the end of the 90’s. | |
− | In 2004, she | + | In 2004, she published her fifth solo album "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Gave_Me_Freedom You Gave Me Freedom]". All the song were written and performed by Rosie Gaines, with the help of the Dredlix team and Scott Gibson. The transitional album [[Album: Try Me|Try Me]] originally planned for release in 1994 is offered for download on rosiegaines.com in 2005. The following year, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welcome_to_My_World_(Rosie_Gaines_album) Welcome To My World]" is released with the house label [http://susumusic.com/ SUsu]. With Francis Jules and Dana Bailey on most tracks, this album contains a remix of "Closer Than Close" and new compositions. None of those albums had any chart impact. |
− | In 2009, the release of the long awaited [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]] on CD is announced but nothing happened until it was made available | + | In 2009, the release of the long awaited [[Album: Concrete Jungle|Concrete Jungle]] on CD is announced but nothing happened until it was made available as download-album only in 2010. This version contains [[I Want U]], [[My Tender Heart]] and the original version of [[Hit U In The Socket|In The Socket]] (the latter was previously released by the [[NPG Music Club]] in a remixed form as [[Hit U In The Socket]]). |
|current work = | |current work = | ||
− | Since these releases, Rosie Gaines has been | + | Since these releases, Rosie Gaines has been retracted from the public eye, both on her site and on social networks. She gave her last performance in London in 2011. Her eighth album "Soul Survivor" which combines songs from "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_Gave_Me_Freedom You Gave Me Freedom]", "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arrival_(Rosie_Gaines_album) Arrival]" and new compositions receives a low-key release on the internet. |
− | Her health condition deteriorated through the years. In 2009, she was she was admitted to the psychiatric ward of a hospital in Rotterdam, after an insulin overdose and seizure. A missing person report was filed by her daughter Latoya Gaines at some point in 2014. Rosie Gaines was found living in a homeless shelter in Richmond, Virginia and she refused housings offered by her friends. During that year, nobody was able to reach her, as she had no telephone and no internet connection. She | + | Her health condition had deteriorated through the years. In 2009, she was she was admitted to the psychiatric ward of a hospital in Rotterdam, after an insulin overdose and seizure. A missing person report was filed by her daughter Latoya Gaines at some point in 2014. Rosie Gaines was found living in a homeless shelter in Richmond, Virginia and she refused housings offered by her friends. During that year, nobody was able to reach her, as she had no telephone and no internet connection. She wasn't able to collect her royalties since her bank accounts were closed and had no clothes except pajamas. In December 2014, Rosie Gaines was hospitalized again after her legs had become swollen and seriously infected since she stopped taking her insulin. Her friend and singer Brenda Vaughn organised a fundraiser benefit with dozens of artists mainly from Oakland including [[Levi Seacer, Jr.]], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony!_Toni!_Ton%C3%A9! Tony Toni Tone’s] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%27wayne_Wiggins D’Wayne Wiggins] and Maxine Jones of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/En_Vogue En Vogue] in january 2015 at at Geoffrey’s Inner Circle in Oakland, California. [[Prince]] got in touch with Rosie Gaines and offered help. |
Revision as of 10:31, 18 September 2017
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