American singer-songwriter and producer (1948-2004). Born James Ambrose Johnson Jr. in Buffalo, New York. Distinguished by his self-described "punk-funk" sound — a fusion of funk, R&B, and rock with deliberately provocative stage persona.
Released ten studio albums starting with Come Get It! (1978). Commercial peak: Street Songs (1981), which sold over 3 million copies on the strength of "Super Freak" and "Give It to Me Baby." Subsequent peaks include Throwin' Down (1982) and Glow (1985). His 1985 production of Eddie Murphy's "Party All the Time" became a top-10 hit. The 2004 sketch "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories" on Chappelle's Show introduced him to a new generation. Died of heart failure in August 2004.
