Who is Tanya Hijazi?

Tanya Hijazi is an American costume designer, who is also known as the former wife of the late James Ambrose Johnson Jr who is best known by his stage name Rick James. Rick James was an American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer who started his musical career in his teenage years.

Rick James is best known for hits such as “Super Freak”, “Mary Jane”, “Give It to Me Baby” and “You and I”. He had a successful career as a songwriter and producer for other artists. Tanya Hijazi and her ex-husband Rick James went to prison for assaulting Mary Sauger and Frances Alley. The pair’s love story is a bit of a fairytale. Let’s delve into the life of Rick James’ ex-wife, Hijazi.

Tanya Hijazi: Bio Summary

Who Is Rick James’ Ex-wife?

The former wife of singer-songwriter, and record producer Rick James, Tanya Hijazi was a fashion designer. She worked as an associate costume designer for The Unseen in 2005. She is known for her work in Unsung (2008), an hour-long music documentary show on TV One.

Unsung uncovers the stories behind influential yet underappreciated R&B, Soul, and Gospel vocalists of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Hijazi is also known for her work in Bitchin’: The Sound and Fury of Rick James (2021) and I’m Rick James (2009).

Tanya Hijazi was born in the year 1972 to her parents. As of 2022, her age is 50 years old. She holds American citizenship and belongs to mixed ethnicity. She has kept the details of her parents a secret. Her parents’ identity and occupation are still unknown.

Hijazi is a private person regarding her life and has hardly revealed anything about her early life and family. There is no information about her siblings, other family members, or educational history.

Tanya Hijazi Love Story With Rick James

Hijazi was previously married to Singer, record producer, and dancer Rick James. The duo met when Tanya Hijazi was at the age of 17 years old. She often attended parties. Tanya Hijazi and Rick James met in the year 1989. They met at a party, per sources.

Hijazi and James got connected and fell in love with each other. They stayed in touch and eventually started a romantic relationship in the year 1990. Their relationship produced a child and they named him Tazman James, born in the year 1993.

Hijazi and James were in a relationship for many years before they decided to spend the rest of their lives together as a couple. They officially got married on December 24, 1997, in front of their parents, family, and close friends.

Tanya Hijazi and Rick James’ union didn’t last long. After five years of marriage, they divorced in the year 2002. Tanya Hijazi was the stepmother of Rick James’ two children Tyenza, and Rick Jr, from his previous relationship.

Tanya Hijazi & Rick James Assaulted A Woman

Tanya Hijazi and Rick James got arrested on August 2, 1991. The pair got arrested for holding a woman named Frances Alley, who was 24 years old hostage for up to six days. Hijazi and James reportedly met Frances Alley at a party.

Hijazi and James discovered that Frances Alley was unemployed so they decided to invite her to stay with them at Rick James’ residence. According to sources, Rick James threatened Frances Alley with a gun, accusing her of stealing his drugs.

Frances Alley was threatened that if she tried to leave, she would be killed. Tanya and Rick James tortured Frances Alley by tying her up and forcing her to perform sexual acts. Tanya and Rick James also burnt Frances Alley’s legs and abdomen with the hot end of a crack cocaine pipe for a week-long cocaine binge.

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Frances Alley was untied after the torture and she fled and found herself at the Cedar Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, where she received treatment. After hearing the allegations, authorities issued warrants for the arrest of both Hijazi and James. Following Hijazi and Rick James’ arrested they were released on bail.

The two went ahead to assault music executive Mary Sauger at the St. James Club and Hotel in West Hollywood. Rick James was under the influence of cocaine. Mary Sauger claimed that she went to meet Tanya Hijazi and Rick James for a business meeting. Mary revealed that Hijazi and James kidnapped and beat her for over 20 hours.

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What Happened To Tanya Hijazi’s Ex-husband?

Hijazi’s ex-husband Rick James was convicted for two separate instances of kidnapping and assaulting two different women while under the influence of crack cocaine. He got a three-year sentence at Folsom State Prison but was released on parole in 1996.

Rick James dropped the album Urban Rapsody in 1997. He had health problems that halted his career again after he had a mild stroke during a concert in 1998, and he announced a semi-retirement. Unfortunately, Rick James passed away on August 6, 2004, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Rick James was found dead by his caretaker in his Los Angeles home at the Oakwood Toluca Hills apartment complex, just outside Burbank. He died when he was 56 years old. A private memorial was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills.

A public funeral was held at St. John Baptist Church in Buffalo, New York on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2004. Tanya Hijazi’s ex-husband, Rick James was finally buried at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Buffalo.

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