Marlena Shaw, the legendary soul and jazz vocalist known for hits such as “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto,” died at the age of 81. Shaw’s daughter, Marla Bradshaw, shared the news on Facebook in a video. The cause of death was not given.
“It’s with a very heavy heart for myself and my family I announce that our beloved mother, your beloved icon and artist Marlena Shaw has passed away today at 12:03, She was peaceful. We were at peace.”
Following her 1966 signing with Chess Records, Marlena Shaw rose to fame. She put out two albums under Cadet Records, the company’s subsidiary, 1967’s “Out of Different Bags” and 1969’s “The Spice of Life,” which had songs like “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto.”
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The song “California Soul,” composed by Ashford & Simpson, was frequently sampled and used in television ads. “Marlena,” Shaw’s third album, was released in 1972 after she signed with Blue Note Records. She went on to record numerous other albums under the Blue Note label, including “From the Depths of My Soul” (1973), “Marlena Shaw Live at Montreux” (1974), “Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?” (1975), and “Just a Matter of Time” (1976).
The Columbia Records album “Sweet Beginnings” by Marlena Shaw was published in 1977 and included songs like “Yu Ma / Go Away Little Boy” and “Look at Me, Look at You.” Born in New Rochelle, New York, on September 22, 1942, Marlina Burgess began her musical career in the 1960s, singing in jazz clubs, and she carried on with live performances until the 2000s. Shaw signed with eight different record labels and put out 17 albums in her career.
Source: variety
