Marlena Shaw facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marlena Shaw
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Shaw in 1967
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Marlina Burgess |
| Born | September 22, 1942 New Rochelle, New York, U.S. |
| Died | January 19, 2024 (aged 81) |
| Genres | Jazz, blues, soul, disco |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1967–2024 |
| Labels | Cadet, Blue Note, Verve |
Marlena Shaw (born Marlina Burgess, September 22, 1942 – January 19, 2024) was a talented American singer. She was famous for her jazz, blues, and soul music. Marlena started singing in the 1960s and performed for many years. Her songs have even been used in hip hop music and TV commercials!
Contents
Marlena Shaw's Early Life and Musical Start
Marlena Shaw was born in New Rochelle, New York. She loved music from a young age. Her uncle, Jimmy Burgess, was a jazz trumpet player. He helped her discover many great musicians.
Discovering Music with Her Uncle
Marlena's uncle introduced her to artists like Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. She also listened to a lot of gospel music. She learned how to sing a song with feeling from singers like Al Hibbler.
First Time on Stage
In 1952, when Marlena was just 10 years old, her uncle took her to the famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem. She got to sing on stage with his band! It was an exciting moment for her. However, her mom didn't want her to go on tour at such a young age.
Marlena later went to college to study music. But she decided to leave college to follow her dream of becoming a singer. Marlena Shaw passed away on January 19, 2024, at the age of 81.
Marlena Shaw's Amazing Music Career
Marlena Shaw started her career by singing in jazz clubs. She worked hard to get her music heard.
Early Performances and Big Breaks
In 1963, she performed with jazz trumpeter Howard McGhee. She was even supposed to sing at the Newport Jazz Festival. Later that year, she had an audition with John H. Hammond from Columbia Records. She was very nervous and didn't do her best.
But Marlena didn't give up! She kept singing in small clubs. Her career really took off in 1966. She got a job singing in Chicago. There, she met people from Chess Records and signed a music deal with them.
Popular Songs and Albums
Marlena released her first two albums with Chess Records' label, Cadet Records. In 1969, she released the song "California Soul". This funk-soul song became very popular. You might have heard it in commercials for brands like Dockers, KFC, and Dodge Ram trucks!
Marlena wanted to find her own unique sound. So, in 1972, she moved to Blue Note Records. This label was known for jazz music.
Later Hits and Performances
In 1977, Marlena released the album Sweet Beginnings. It included the song "Yu Ma / Go Away Little Boy". She also sang the theme song for the 1977 movie Looking for Mr. Goodbar.
Marlena also recorded a big disco hit. It was a new version of the song "Touch Me in the Morning". She continued to perform and record music for many years. She even performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands several times.
Marlena Shaw's Music Albums
Marlena Shaw released many albums during her career. Here are some of her most well-known ones:
- Out of Different Bags (1967)
- The Spice of Life (1969)
- Marlena (1972)
- Marlena Shaw Live at Montreux (1974)
- Who Is This ..., Anyway? (1975)
- Sweet Beginnings (1977)
- It Is Love (Recorded Live at Vine St.) (1987)
- Dangerous (1996)
- Lookin' for Love (2004)
Singles (Popular Songs)
Marlena Shaw also released many popular singles:
- "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" (1967)
- "It's Better Than Walkin' Out" (1976)
- "Yu-Ma/Go Away Little Boy" (1977)
- "Theme from Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1978)
- "California Soul" (2004) - This song was certified Gold in the UK!
See also
In Spanish: Marlena Shaw para niños
