PASSINGS…

Garlanded keyboard player, sometime vocalist, member of Snarky Puppy  and gospel music luminary and pastor SHAUN MARTIN died on Sunday 4th August. He was 45 and the cause of death has not been revealed, but it was reported that the musician stepped away from music in April 2023 to battle illness after suffering a stroke.

Snarky Puppy posted the news:  “We lost a music legend and, more importantly, a beautiful, luminous human being. Shaun Martin touched so many people during his life and through the beautiful immortality of music, will continue to do so. There’s so much that can be said but words can’t do justice. Rest in peace.”

Born in Dallas, Martin enjoyed a successful and lengthy career, winning seven Grammys. In the soul world, he’ll be remembered for helping write and produce Erykah Badu’s album, ‘Mama’s Gun’ as well as for being a member of Chaka Khan’s backing band. In the world of Gospel  he ministered in one of  Texas’ biggest churches and worked for many years with Gospel star, Kirk Franklin  who described Martin as “my right hand, my North Star, my musical collaborator for over 25 years.”

Martin also worked extensively with the Snarky Puppy collective – with whom he won three of his Grammys. He was  also part of the Go-Go Band, an outlet for his love of Washington, D.C.’s go-go music scene. His solo albums included ‘Focus’ and ‘7 Summers’  and he participated in the trio project ‘Three-O’ with Matthew Ramsey and Mike “Blaque Dynamite” Mitchell.

On his passing his wife, Monica Wilson Martin, on Sunday wrote : “It is with great sorrow to share the news of the passing of my husband, Harold Lashaun Martin. The light in our family has been dim since April 17, 2023. Since then it has been our priority to surround him in love, support, and prayer and the best medical care that could be provided. At this point, God has spoken, and we must accept His Will. Thank you to our family and friends who continue to surround us with unwavering love. We kindly ask for your prayers as we navigate this heartbreaking loss being felt in our home, throughout DFW, and ultimately around the world.”

Veteran soul and R&B singer, MAURICE WILLIAMS died on Tuesday August 6th. Few details are currently available save that the singer was aged 86.

Of course, Williams will forever be remembered for his  timeless classic ‘Stay’. The 1960 release is credited as the shortest song to make no. 1 on the US charts. For that recording, Williams was fronting the Zodiacs. Prior to that he was part of the Royal Charms and the Gladiolas. Apart from ‘Stay’, he’s also wrote the doo-wop classic ‘Little Darlin’’ – a massive hit for the Diamonds.

‘Stay’ – covered in the UK by the Hollies – remains William’s greatest achievement but the Northern fraternity espoused his tracks, ‘Don’t Ever Leave Me ‘and ‘Being Without You’.

Despite major success, Williams worked regularly and he was eventually inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.