.Rick James
James, Rick (born James Ambrose Johnson, Jr.)
(1948-2004)
Born in Buffalo, James was the third of eight children. His father was an autoworker who abandoned the family, his mother was a former dancer. His uncle was Melvin Franklin, bass vocalist of The Temptations.
R&B/funk star famed for his 1981 hit "Super Freak." Three days before James's death, Dave Chappelle had signed a contract to star in a Paramount movie biography of Rick James.
Buffalo Stories: Rick James (Includes photos; online Dec. 2024)
Wikipedia: Rick James (online Dec. 2024)
IMDb: Filmography (Video, Photos; online Dec. 2024)
Rick James mural, 3251 Bailey Avenue
Buffalo Renaissance mural: Rick James, Jefferson at Woodlawn
Rick James' house, 104 Chapin Parkway
Forest Lawn Cemetery
If you are of a certain age, you may have a few fond memories of late nights spent at Mulligan’s Café and Nightclub on Hertel Avenue. If you were one of the lucky ones, your VIP membership gained you and your friends entrance to the VIP room adjacent to the main space. Located on Hertel Avenue in North Buffalo, Mulligan’s was a hotspot during the disco era of the 1970s and 1980s, with the likes of OJ Simpson and Rick James in frequent attendance. On any given Saturday night, James would be donning an elaborate full-length fur coat flanked by an entourage of beautiful women, and would whisk away a fortunate few from the pub in the front, to the VIP room in the back, treating them to a night of dancing, drinks, and whatever else might have happened during that era of excess.
Left vacant for years now, the once vibrant building will soon breathe new life, thanks to local attorney and Hertel reformer Tom Eoannou. Eoannou has invested heavily in the North Buffalo Community and says, “There has been more money spent in the development on Hertel Avenue within the last year than has probably been spent in the past 20 years.” He continues, “What was once a sleepy part of the street is now the most vibrant.” The part of the street he is referring to is the block encompassing the southwest corner of Hertel and Starin Avenues.
