Marlena Shaw obit

California Soul singer Marlena Shaw dies as fans pay tribute to jazz legend

Jazz legend Marlena Shaw has died at age 81, with the California Soul singer's daughter announcing the sad news to fans on social media on Friday night

She was not on the list.Jazz and soul singer Marlena Shaw has died at age 81, her family said.

Her daughter announced her death on Facebook on Friday night, with fans quickly paying tribute following the sad announcement. Marlena was a music icon whose tunes touched three generations, and she remains a top streaming artist even four decades after her heyday.

Born in New York, Marlena started her career in the mid-1960s, performing in the city's jazz clubs with trumpeter Howard McGhee. Her unique talent as a song stylist didn't go unnoticed, leading to a contract with Chicago's Chess Records. Here, she recorded albums that resonated with both jazz and R&B fans.

Marlena shot to stardom in the early 1970s. Her striking looks and equally impressive voice won fans worldwide, resulting in hits like "Woman of the Ghetto" and her signature tune, "California Soul." The latter is still celebrated today, boasting over 100 million streams on Spotify alone and was recently used by KFC for for a TV advert.

Her smooth, rich vocals paired with thought-provoking lyrics captivated audiences. Her fame soared further when she signed with Columbia Records, hitting the top 20 with 1977's Sweet Beginnings. Over the next decade, she also recorded for Verve, Polydor, and Concord Jazz, continuing to release albums well into the early 2000s. She regularly graced stages around the globe and was known for her wide-ranging talent and ability to perform pop, soul, jazz and more with exquisite phrasing.

Marlena's daughter Marla's video message said it was with "a heavy heart" that she was announcing the icon's death but added how she knows her mother "is in heaven now and at peace."

In the moving video, Marla noted how fans would have seen her late mother celebrating a family birthday recently - something Marla and her twin sister were "very grateful" for. She added that she "didn't want to go into too much detail" regarding her mother's death but it was "peaceful".

Marla shared how her mother was "listening to her favourite songs" as she passed away and went on to let fans know the family will be providing a PO Box address should they want to send condolences. Marlena's fans were quick to send their love and support to their late idol's child following the sad announcement.

"I am so sorry to hear about this! Your mom was extremely talented and she will never be forgotten! Please be strong. We are all here for you," one of Marlena's fans commented underneath Marla's video. "Marla, my sincere love and condolences to you and the family," another wrote. "I am devastated but it was a blessing to know your Mom and to meet you here on FB. Her music lives forever and we will never forget her. She was a most spectacular lady and artist. Please keep us in the loop and know that we are thinking of you so much. Love, Vincent."