Margie Cox
Encyclopedia
Margaret "Margie" Cox, also known as Ta Mara, is an American singer. She is best known as the lead singer of Minneapolis sound
band Ta Mara and the Seen, and for her work with Prince
.
, Morocco
and moved to Minneapolis with her family when she was seven years old. She learned to play several instruments, including piano, guitar, and drums.
Cox attended Marshall-University High School and sang in the nightclub Bootlegger Sam's in Dinkytown when she was in ninth grade. She graduated to other bands, including Raggs in 1980, the Doug Maynard Band, the T.C. Jammers, the Peterson-Cox Band (with Patty Peterson), Rupert's Orchestra and, in 1987, Dr. Mambo's Combo
(now just the Legendary Combo).
She also sang on a local "Bar Wars" compilation LP, and on the final Lipps, Inc album.
, guitarist with Minneapolis band The Time
. Johnson renamed Cox "Ta Mara" and helped the band sign a deal with A&M. He also produced their first album, Ta Mara and the Seen, and co-wrote all of the songs. The band had one major hit with "Everybody Dance
" but in 1989 they broke up after releasing their next album, Blueberry Gossip.
, and the song was released as a single.
's 1988 album Forever Your Girl
.
In 2003 she released her first solo album Margie's Little Demo.
Minneapolis sound
The Minneapolis sound is a hybrid mixture of funk, rock, pop, R&B and New Wave that was pioneered by Prince in the late 1970s. Its popularity was given a boost throughout the 1980s, thanks to his musical adherents, including The Time, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Morris Day, Vanity 6, Apollonia 6, Ta...
band Ta Mara and the Seen, and for her work with Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
.
Early life and career
Cox was born in KenitraKenitra
Kenitra is a city in Morocco, formerly known as Port Lyautey. It is a port on the Sebou River, has a population in 2004 of 359,142 and is the capital of the Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen region. During the Cold War Kenitra's U.S...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
and moved to Minneapolis with her family when she was seven years old. She learned to play several instruments, including piano, guitar, and drums.
Cox attended Marshall-University High School and sang in the nightclub Bootlegger Sam's in Dinkytown when she was in ninth grade. She graduated to other bands, including Raggs in 1980, the Doug Maynard Band, the T.C. Jammers, the Peterson-Cox Band (with Patty Peterson), Rupert's Orchestra and, in 1987, Dr. Mambo's Combo
Dr. Mambo's Combo
Dr. Mambo's Combo is a soul and R&B musical group that has been playing at Bunker's in downtown Minneapolis since 1987.Michael Bland was discovered and hired by Prince while playing in this group.Sonny T...
(now just the Legendary Combo).
She also sang on a local "Bar Wars" compilation LP, and on the final Lipps, Inc album.
Ta Mara and The Seen
In 1985 Cox formed a band called The Seen and was noticed by Jesse JohnsonJesse Johnson (musician)
Jesse Woods Johnson is a musician best known as the guitarist in the original lineup of The Time....
, guitarist with Minneapolis band The Time
The Time (band)
The Time is a funk and dance-pop ensemble formed in 1981. They are close Prince associates and arguably the most successful artists who have worked with him.-Prince, Formation and Success:...
. Johnson renamed Cox "Ta Mara" and helped the band sign a deal with A&M. He also produced their first album, Ta Mara and the Seen, and co-wrote all of the songs. The band had one major hit with "Everybody Dance
Everybody Dance (song, 1985)
Hit single from 1985 by "Ta Mara" of Ta Mara and the Seen.Went to #3 on the Billboard R&B charts.- External links :* * *...
" but in 1989 they broke up after releasing their next album, Blueberry Gossip.
Work with Prince
Cox is a long-time associate of the singer Prince and his band The New Power Generation. In the early 1990s, she recorded more than 25 songs with Prince for a band to be called M.C. Flash, although the album was never released. She also covered Prince's "Standing at the Altar" for his 1994 compilation album 1-800-NEW-FUNK1-800-NEW-FUNK
1-800-NEW-FUNK is a compilation album by Prince's NPG Records meant to showcase artists signed to the label. It was released on July 20, 1994...
, and the song was released as a single.
Later work
Cox co-wrote "I Need You" with Johnson, which appeared on Paula AbdulPaula Abdul
Paula Julie Abdul is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer, actress and television personality.In the 1980s, Abdul rose from cheerleader for the Los Angeles Lakers to highly sought-after choreographer at the height of the music video era before scoring a string of pop music-R&B hits...
's 1988 album Forever Your Girl
Forever Your Girl
Forever Your Girl is the debut album from singer Paula Abdul. It was released on June 13, 1988 and took 64 weeks from its release to hit number one on the Billboard 200 album sales chart, the longest an album has been on the market before hitting number one. The album was eventually certified seven...
.
In 2003 she released her first solo album Margie's Little Demo.