Marlena Shaw, “California Soul” Singer, Dead At 84

Marlena Shaw, an iconic jazz singer best known for her hits, “California Soul,” “Woman Of The Ghetto,” and “Touch Me In The Morning,” has died at age 84.

The news was confirmed on Friday (Jan. 19) by her daughter, Marla Bradshaw, in a Facebook video. Shaw’s cause of death is unknown, but Bradshaw shared that her mother passed away peacefully—the day after celebrating the birthday of her twin daughters.

“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,” she stated. Opting to not go into much detail, Bradshaw added, “When it’s needing to be known, it will be […] She’s at peace [and] she’s in heaven. Our family is at peace.” Bradshaw also noted that Shaw passed listening to some of her favorite songs.

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Shaw influenced jazz, R&B, soul, and disco as she rose to prominence in the ’60s.

She began her career at Cadet Records, where she released two studio albums, including 1969’s The Spice of Life, which featured her famed rendition of Ashford & Simpson’s “California Soul” Three years later, Shaw signed to Universal Music Group’s Blue Note, making history as their first female vocalist.

Her music centered around the strength of Black women and Black community during the height of racial divide in America. Throughout her career, she released 17 albums across eight record labels.

Ian Dickson/Redferns

Verve Records released a statement regarding her death as they honored her contribution to the label’s history.

“We are saddened by the passing of Marlena Shaw, a wonderful singer whose ‘California Soul’ is as popular today as it ever was and whose album ‘It Is Love: Recorded Live At Vine St.’ helped relaunch the Verve label in 1987,” the statement read.

VIBE sends our deepest condolences to Marlena Shaw’s family and friends during this time.