Mary Jane Girls

The Mary Jane Girls were a popular American R&B, soul and funk girl group who were cultivated by the legendary Rick James.

Formed in 1979 as James' permanent backup singers, James soon got them to the recording studio on their own. Their first album released in 1983, Candy Man, unleashed the classic funk romp, "All Night Long", and the equally funky "Candy Man". With James at the helm again, in 1985, the group scored their biggest hit with the unforgettable sex romp "In My House" off the platinum album of the same name.

A third album was supposed to be released in 1986 but because of James' troubles with drugs, Motown and his dissolvement of his Stone City Band, the album was shelved. By the time 1987 had ended, the group had broke up.

Despite that, the MJGs found new success for having their songs sampled by hip-hop acts, most famously by hip-hop singer Mary J. Blige, who sampled the group's "All Night Long" for her song, "Mary Jane (All Night Long)" starting off her 1994 album, My Life. Rap singer LL Cool J had sampled the same song four years prior for his hit, "Around the Way Girl". In 1997, some members of the group reunited with Rick James as he brought back the Stone City Band to record his album, Urban Rapsody and go out on tour. There were talks of a reunion but it probably wouldn't be happening since James died in his sleep in 2004.