Original off-white ‘Throwin’ Down’ sweat suit gifted to Rick James and members of the Stone City Band by boxing legend Sugar Ray Leonard, consisting of a sweatshirt, no size (likely small), with stylized red-and-black text and scrollwork to the chest, “Rick James, ‘Throwin’ Down,’” and matching draw-string sweatpants with the upper right waist area featuring a winged heart with scroll, “Stone City Band.” In overall fine condition.
Accompanied by a letter of provenance from Lisa Sarna, an original member of Rick James and the Stone City Band during the late 1970s and early 1980s, who notes: “The running suit [was] gifted to our group by Sugar Ray Leonard. This gesture speaks to the respect and friendship that existed between champions in their respective fields—Rick James ruling the music world while Sugar Ray dominated the boxing ring.”
From the personal collection of Lisa Sarna, an original member of Rick James and the Stone City Band, who worked as one of James' backup singers, a group coined ‘The Colored Girls.’ Sarna’s distinct voice can be heard on several notable tracks and albums, in particular as the ‘Say What’ girl on the track, ‘Give It to Me Baby.’ Her contributions extend to albums such as Street Songs, Fire It Up, Urban Rhapsody, Throwin’ Down, In & Out, Love Garden, Bustin’ Out, Temptations Reunion, Teena Marie’s Wild & Peaceful, and Laura Branigan.
