In Memoriam
In Memoriam : Marlena Shaw, legendary jazz singer, dies at 81
Marlena Shaw, the singer behind “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto”, has died.
Marlena Shaw, the singer behind “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto”, has died.
Marlena Shaw has passed away
Shaw’s daughter announced her passing on Facebook.
“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,” Marla Bradshaw, her daughter, said. “She went listening to some of her favorite songs.”
Bradshaw did not specify the cause of death but said her mother’s passing was “peaceful”.
She was 81.
Music career
Marlena Shaw was a legendary musician who influenced music in the jazz, soul, disco and R&B genres.
She rose to notoriety the 1960s after she was noticed by the Chess Records label. She sang her most recognizable single “California Soul” with the label before switching to a more jazz-focused label.
Shaw’s music transcended across many generations and has been featured and sampled in popular media, TV commercials and other songs.
Her lyrics often communicated the strength of the Black American community and Black women at a time when there was racial divide in the country and its politics.
In her career, Shaw put out 17 albums.
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today!
Follow us on Facebook, X, TikTok, Instagram
Family launches GoFundMe as actor Samuel Monroe Jr. fights meningitis on life support
Community rallies around Mardi Gras float artist Raymond Bowie as he faces health challenges
Kiara Brokenbrough, woman who went viral for $47 dress, dies during childbirth at 32
Kendrick Johnson death investigation remains open as family releases new photo they say purportedly shows his body being dragged
Cynthia Shange, trailblazing actress and beauty queen, dies at 76
GoFundMe launched for Christina Snow, mother who lost three children in Louisiana mass shooting
Virgin Islands announces lineup for 74th annual St. Thomas Carnival Village
GoFundMe launched for family of 7‑month‑old girl killed in Brooklyn shooting
GoFundMe launched for Cleveland deacon recovering after brutal attack outside church
Ashlee Jenae’s father launches GoFundMe to help family bury late influencer
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
Hazel Scott’s legacy returns to Harlem in free outdoor film screening
Olympic Gymnast Frederick Richard sets world record, raises $50K for Ugandan youth
Renee Ferguson, trailblazing investigative journalist, dies at 75
“AfroPoP Digital Shorts” returns to the land with “Sweet Samara,” climate and abolitionist film
-
Community6 days agoGoFundMe launched for Christina Snow, mother who lost three children in Louisiana mass shooting
-
New Jersey2 weeks agoAshlee Jenae’s father launches GoFundMe to help family bury late influencer
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoSouth Florida woman reportedly set on fire by roommate, GoFundMe launched to support medical costs
-
Community2 weeks agoBoston’s Black Market Nubian faces April 30 closure as community mobilizes to save cultural hub
-
Culture6 days agoTony Award winner Melba Moore to headline fundraiser for Thomas Fortune Cultural Center in Red Bank, New Jersey
-
Crime & Justice6 days agoBronx family demands justice after 78-year-old grandfather killed by stray bullet
-
Community1 week agoSon of civil rights leader, Derek Steele, battles stage 4 prostate cancer, GoFundMe launched for support
-
Health & Wellness1 week agoHoward graduate who worked as a janitor at Yale Hospital returns as a doctor
-
Crime & Justice1 week agoPregnant mother of two killed in Atlanta highway shooting while driving home
-
Social Justice5 days ago
Kendrick Johnson death investigation remains open as family releases new photo they say purportedly shows his body being dragged