Marlena Shaw, ‘California Soul’ Singer, Dies at 81
variety.comMichaela Zee Marlena Shaw, the soul and jazz vocalist known for her hits “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto,” has died.
She was 81. Shaw’s daughter, Marla Bradshaw, shared the news Friday in a video posted on Facebook. A cause of death was not revealed. “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 today at 12:03,” Bradshaw said in the video. “She was peaceful.
We were at peace.” “She went listening to some of her favorite songs,” Bradshaw added. Shaw rose to prominence after signing with Chess Records in 1966.
She released two albums with the music label’s subsidiary Cadet Records: 1967’s “Out of Different Bags” and 1969’s “The Spice of Life,” which featured the popular tracks “California Soul” and “Woman of the Ghetto.” “California Soul,” which was written by Ashford & Simpson, was heavily sampled by other artists and appeared in multiple TV commercials.
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