Marlena Shaw – The Storyteller of Soul!
November 24, 2008 by admin
Filed under Featured Artists
Marlena Shaw is a soul music singer and has been a popular artist since 1967. She was bon on 22nd September 1944 in New Rochelle. She was discovered as a singer by Chess Records.
Marlena released her first albums with Cadet Records and then shifted to Blue Note Records. She was the first female artist to sing for Blue Note Records. Marlena still performs on shows and was at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Netherlands.
Marlena is seen as a national treasure and she has been named the Best Female singer by Downbeat and Record World. Marlena is not only a singer; she is also a lyricist and composer.
Marlena can sing Jazz, pop, R&B, rock, disco, gospel, soul or blues music which makes her so special as a singer and each song of her is intimate as well. Her music always carries an element of humor and hope.
Marlena first performed when she was just 10 years of age and she has managed to come a long way since then. Marlena has worked with big bands and orchestras. Among them were the cologne big band, Loud Minority Band, Smithsonian and Seattle Repertory. Marlena also performed with big stars like Joe Williams, Ray Brown, Sammy Davis Jr. and Benny Carter. She is travelling most days in the year.
At Blue Note Records she recorded five albums and various hit singles. She gave many hit singles like “California Soul”, “Wade in the Water” and “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy”. She took to the international music fraternity in 2000 when she became quite popular after her album “Anthology”.
Marlena is acclaimed by most critics as “peerless”, “astonishing”, “powerful” and “radiant”.
Her contributions include “Out of Different Bags” in 1967 with Cadet, “Spice of Life” IN 1969 WITH Cadet, “Marlena” in 1972 with Blue Note, “From The Depths Of Soul” in 1973 with Blue Note, “Live at Monteux” in 1974 with Blue Note, “Acting Up” in 197 with CBS, “Touch Me in the Morning” in 1979 with Columbia, “Love at Vine Street” in 1983 with Verve, “Dangerous” in 1996 with Concord which was a Jazz, “Live in Tokyo” in 2002 which was with 411 Records, “Lookin’ For Love” in 2003 with 411 Records and “The Blue Note Years” in 2003 with EMI International.
Marlena is popular worldwide as her songs are more soulful and deliver a story rather than just music. This makes the song more hilarious and soft which is admired by most fans. Her signature tune “Go Away, Little Boy” is much popular. Marlena has been the same soul singer since the inception of her being a singer.
Her albums include “Out of Different Bags” in 1967, “Spice of Life in 1969, “Marlena” in 1972, “Life At Monteux” in 1973, “Who is This Bitch, Anyway”, “Just a matter of time” in 1976, “Sweet Beginnings” in 1977, “Acting Up” in 1978, “Take a Bite”, “Let Me In Your Life”, “It Is Love” in 1986, “Love Is In Flight” in 1988, “Dangerous” in 1996, “Elemental Soul” in 1997 and “Anthology” in 2000.
The craze for her music is still seen in most of her fans and many of her songs and albums. She has been a struggler since childhood and has come a long way to become one of the most acclaimed female singers.
TJ Grooves
Rare Soul Grooves & Soul Music TV
Marlena is an artist with a silky voice. Whatever she delivers, she does it perfectly. So if she is singing ballads or down-home blues, you find that the songs are silky smooth. How does she do it all the time? Just pay attention to “Blues in B” and “I Wish I Knew How it Would Feel to be Free”, and you will know what I mean.
She is not only a talented singer but also a lady of great charm and wit. When she performs on stage, she has a great ability to connect with the audience. She is a big charmer and the audience loves her for her witty repartees. I love that song, “Touch Me In The Morning / Give Me Just A Little More Time.”
The 1970s and the disco nights would have been so dull, if we did not have the powerful voice of Shaw to light up the nights. Her discos numbers had her fans screaming for more. Every time she came up with something better for her fans. So all were happy. “It’s better than walking out” was a big hit.
Marlena Shaw - California Soul. A very good soul singer. I like his style full of hope.
“The surf gave birth I’m told to ….California Soul” - a classic track sampled and re-used in countless other tunes, from ad’s and movie soundtracks to videogames. DJShadow, Adam Freeland, DJ Premier, Syler, Ninth Wonder, Buckshot, DJ Day, Blue Boy - you name it, they’ve sampled it. The Dockers commercial, a Grolsch beer ad and The Italian Job remake all used tracks by Marlena Shaw. Her sassy confident delivery is aped and appreciated everywhere.
And Violadores del Verso used a Shaw track too. (The violators of verse are a Spanish hip-hop band from Zaragoza). Erykah Badu got her style from Shaw, and even Alicia Keys takes a leaf out of her book too.
A special artist with a vast repertoire that the truly was called “a national treasure.”
I listened “Feel Like Makina ‘Love” song. A warm voice, good stamp, worthy of variance with Roberta Flack.
I’m glad to hear that Marlena has been the same soul singer since the inception of her being a singer.
Whenever I think of a great soul singer, the name of Marlena Shaw comes to my mind. I did not know that her first albums were released under Cadet Records and later on, she had moved Blue Note Records. As the first female artist who sang for Blue Note Records, she made a big name for herself.
Marlena is always brilliant whenever she gives stage performances. They are like large than life experiences and she was excellent at the North Sea Jazz Festival, held in Netherlands. My favorite album is “Go Away Little Boy: The Sass and Soul of Marlena Shaw”. The best song in this album is “Touch Me in the Morning”.
I agree with Andy. Marlena’s classic number like “The surf gave birth I’m told to…California Soul” has been used so many times and in so many places. It means that her songs are lovely. That is the reason why people are using it, but have the modern musicians devoid of talent or are they too lazy to come up with new tunes?
Doesn’t it seem that singers that have to struggle to get there bring with them the most amazing voice based on what they have experienced? Its as if their voice swells to try to tell us the emotion, drama and impact of what they have been through?
Hi
We’ve just put together a podcast featuring interviews and music from Marlena Shaw and Greg Wilson. Follow the link below to hear what ‘California Soul’ legend Marlena thinks about the influence soul and funk has had on today’s music, not to mention why she loves Japan! Also featuring Greg Wilson filling us in on his personal mission to educate the world on musical heritage.
http://radiomagnetic.com/main-features/marlena-shaw-greg-wilson/
Thanks
Radio Magnetic