‘California Soul’ Singer Dies at 81 – Billboard

Marlena Shaw, the jazz and soul singer greatest identified for her 1969 recording of “California Soul,” has died. She was 81.

Shaw’s daughter, Marla Bradshaw, confirmed her loss of life in a video posted on Fb on Friday (Jan. 19).

“It’s with a really heavy coronary heart that for myself and our household, I announce that our beloved mom, your loved one icon and artist, Marlena Shaw, has handed away at this time at 12:03,” she stated.

“She was peaceable,” she continued. “We have been at peace. I do know that you just simply noticed posts of [a] birthday celebration simply as quickly as yesterday, and my twin sister and I have been very grateful — and our household — that she was right here in celebration for that.”

No reason for loss of life was given on the time of publication.

“Proper now, she’s at peace. She’s in Heaven. I do know that,” Shaw’s daughter added. She shared that “she went listening to a few of her favourite songs.”

Born on Sept. 22, 1939, as Marlina Burgess in New Rochelle, New York, the singer has stated her uncle Jimmy Burgess acquired her into music. Burgess was a jazz trumpet participant.

Shaw (which grew to become her stage identify) is understood for her launch of “California Soul,” which was written by Ashford & Simpson and made obtainable in 1969 underneath Cadet Data, a subsidiary of Chess Data. There, she launched the albums Out of Totally different Baggage (1967) and The Spice of Life (1969), the latter of which featured the oft-sampled songs “California Soul” and “Lady of the Ghetto.”

“California Soul” has been sampled by a lot of artists, together with Gang Starr and Stereo MC, and Diplo launched a remix of the track in 2008. The monitor has additionally been licensed to be used in a number of commercials, together with advertisements for Dodge, KFC and Dockers.

“I believe it’s nice,” she stated in a 2009 interview of listening to her music sampled. “I actually do. Primary, I really like the shock of it and like to listen to what someone else’s thought is.”

“However this kinda makes me really feel like I’m the solar, you realize, and I shine on all types of issues,” she added with fun.

Shaw additionally launched a number of recordings underneath Blue Be aware Data, and music on labels together with Columbia and Verve. Verve shared in an announcement, “We’re saddened by the passing of Marlena Shaw, an exquisite singer whose ‘California Soul’ is as widespread at this time because it ever was and whose album It Is Love: Recorded Reside at Vine St. helped relaunch the Verve label in 1987.”

Shaw has stated that performing stay “has been my saving grace.” She defined, “I actually constantly labored stay. Every kind of venues, the large bands, the small bands — as a result of I adore it.”

The singer’s household has shared an tackle for individuals who want to ship condolences:

Ms. Marlena Shaw & Household
P.O. Field 335774
N. Las Vegas, NV 89033