Singing back up for Teena Marie has been an incredible journey.  To be really honest with you... I didn't grow up listening to Teena's Music, other than her Top 40 hit "Lover Girl"  Boy was I missing out!  So when I first started with Teena In 2003, I had to learn a lot of her material, which at the time seemed like compositions in comparison to the average pop R&B Songs that i was use to you! Her writing is deep and very well thought out. She's a painter, like Picaso with her lyrics, She paints pictures with each song.  So origionally when i started with Teena we had just received the News that Rick James was going to be joining her on her tour, which was like a double WOW. Imagine.. RICK JAMES.  Well it got even better... Not only was I singing back up for the legendary LADY-T but Now I was also singing back up for the Legendary RICK JAMES.  How could that be any better?  Well, believe it or not.. it got better. Within 3 Weeks of Rehursals, Rick was having me sing the Duet Ebony Eyes with him!!!  I thought I would die.. but I didn't.. I lived through it and am able to tell you the story now.  It was an awsome tour!  Hearing Teena and Rick sing "Fire and Desire" 2 nights a week was soooo Powerfull I can't even begin to explain it.  Even now that Rick has passed... Teena still sings that song and MAN... it's just lifts every hair on my arms and neck.. straight up!  I've come to know T a lot better... but she is like outerspace... she goes on and on, deeper and deeper. There really is no End to her and her talent.  Just when you think you know her... YoU DoN't!   I can't thank her enough for having me be apart of her family cuz thats really what the band is...a family. When I'm at her house I feel very comfortable and peacefull.  I'll never forget the time her and I went Christmas Shopping last year.  People would freek out just seeing her walk by. Now you and I know that the White people really don't know who she is (unless I sing "I Just Want To Be Your Lover Girl"..)  to them, then they know, but when the black and latino folk see her... Wooo...they FLIP OUT! lol

Since Ricks passing we as a band continued to sing Ebony Eyes in Tribute to him.  I would open the song and sing the first verse and then the other singers and band meembers would join in.  We did that for 2 years after he passed and man was that a high point in the show.  She also had me sing on 3 of her new songs for her new record coming out next year.  And may I just say WOW to that as well cuz this record is a doozie!!!  Last years tour was amszing.. we went everywhere...Jamaica, Florida, N.Y. Vegas, Chicago, Detroit, Atlanta, Baltamore, Philly, New Mexico and our last stop is on Oct. 7th 2006 in Bermuda with yet another legend..Mrs.Glady's Knight.           

All I can say is WOW...What a blessing!

Much peace and blessings..

Julian Miranda