New Music Express reports:
Marlena Shaw, the US soul and jazz vocalist best known for her hit ‘California Soul’, has died at the age of 81. The news was confirmed by Shaw’s daughter Marla on her official Facebook page last night (January 19).
Shaw’s signature song ‘California Soul’ was recorded as a humble album track on her 1969 LP ‘The Spice of Life’, but later became a highly sought-after record for rare groove collectors and early hip-hop samplers.
The track, which was written by Ashford & Simpson and first recorded by The Messengers, became a popular choice for television advertisers too, and currently has over 100 million streams on Spotify.
Read the full article. Eldergays may best know Ms. Shaw for her classic 1979 cover of “Touch Me In The Morning,” which remains a staple at disco oldies t-dances. Shaw performed the track as the final live act during the 1988 closing party for New York City’s legendary Saint nightclub.