Marlena Shaw, Legendary Jazz Singer, Passes Away at 81

Legendary jazz singer Marlena Shaw, known for her songs "California Soul" and "Woman of the Ghetto" died at the age of 81 on Friday, her daughter announced in a video 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 said she did not want to go into too many details but wanted to assure fans her mother's death "was peaceful" and that the family was "at peace."

The musician — who influenced music in the jazz, soul, disco and R&B genres — rose to popularity in the 1960s after she was noticed by the Chess Records label. She sang her recognizable "California Soul" with the label before switching to a more jazz-oriented label.

Shaw's music spanned generations and was often 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 a great racial divide in the country and its politics.

Marlena Shaw's Musical Legacy

Marlena Shaw, a renowned singer, left behind a remarkable musical legacy. Throughout her career, she released a total of 17 albums with eight different record labels.

Verve Records, one of the record labels Shaw collaborated with in 1987, recently paid tribute to her. In a statement posted on Facebook, they celebrated Shaw's contribution to the label's history. They mentioned how her song "California Soul" remains popular even today and highlighted her album "It Is Love: Recorded Live At Vine St." which played a significant role in relaunching the Verve label.

Shaw's daughter, Bradshaw, shared that they had a joyful celebration for their birthdays with their mother the day before she passed away. This final gathering provided them with a precious opportunity to spend quality time with their loved ones.

"Miss Shaw is now in heaven," her daughter expressed.