Marlena Shaw was a music icon whose songs touched three generations. Four decades after her heyday, she is still a top streaming artist with 1.2 million monthly listeners on Spotify. The oft-sampled soul singer, best known for her 1969 hit “California Soul,” has now died at the age of 81, her daughter announced in an Instagram video on Friday (January 19).
Artists like Gang Starr, Stereo MC and Drake have sampled their music
New York-born Shaw began her career in the mid-1960s, performing in the city’s jazz clubs with trumpeter Howard McGhee. Her songwriting talent did not go unnoticed and led to a contract with Chess Records in Chicago. The albums she recorded here were enjoyed by both jazz and R&B fans.
The singer’s breakthrough came in the early 1970s, followed by hits such as “Woman of the Ghetto” and “California Soul”. Their songs were later sampled by numerous hip-hop artists such as Gang Starr, Stereo MC and Drake.
Listen to “California Soul” here:
Marlena Shaw was listening to her favorite songs when she died
In the video, the deceased’s daughter, Marla Shaw, said she “didn’t want to go into too much detail” about her mother’s death, but it was “peaceful.” Her mother was listening to her favorite songs when she died, the Mirror reported. Shaw also said the family will provide a PO box address if they would like to send their condolences.