Marlena Shaw
565,281 plays (105,321 listeners)
Born in Valhalla, NY, Shaw’s first musical influences were her uncle and grandmother, who loved to sing and play gospel music on the family’s “hi-fi” record player. As a girl, Marlena was also involved with numerous gospel singing groups. Her first experience singing before a large audience was with her uncle, who played trumpet and exposed her to the music of jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie. At only 10 years old, Shaw performed with her uncle at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, and they were asked to return for the next week’s show. As Shaw recalls, her uncle got booked elsewhere on the same night, and young Marlena had to take the stage solo at the Apollo for the second show.
Shaw’s professional aspirations were rejuvenated after she was married and living on an Air Force base near Springfield, MA. Encouraged by friends, she auditioned and got some gigs near the base, then made a demo tape in the garage of Charlie Parent, a local drummer. The tape eventually landed her a regular gig at the Concord, a resort hotel in the Catskill Mountains in upstate New York.
Shaw’s big break was an invitation to sing with the Count Basie Orchestra. Basie’s accountant heard her at the New York Playboy club. Basie was sent a copy of one of her records, while Marlena met with Basie alumnus and trumpeter Frank Foster to arrange charts of some of her numbers. The next thing she knew, she was flown out to meet the whole band at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas.
Top Albums
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Spice of Life
Marlena Shaw
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Who Is This Bitch, Anyway?
Marlena Shaw
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Out Of Different Bags/Spice Of Life
Marlena ShawBuy- Download Album
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The Spice Of Life
Marlena Shaw
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California Soul
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Woman Of The Ghetto
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Liberation Conversation
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Feel Like Makin' Love
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Feel Like Making Love
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Loving You Was Like a Party
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Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
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Go Away Little Boy
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Rhythm Of Love
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Videos
News
New Interview
22 Jan 2009 | from blog.myspace.com/officialmarlenashaw
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California Soul Cannot Be Added???
5 May 2008 | from blog.myspace.com/officialmarlenashaw -
Californai Soul?????
4 May 2008 | from blog.myspace.com/officialmarlenashaw -
California Soul
22 Apr 2008 | from blog.myspace.com/officialmarlenashaw
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Recent Activity
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sarahparmenter, leafofarose, elishan and 4 other people added Marlena Shaw to their libraries. 3 hours ago
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redhotchicken tagged Marlena Shaw with ‘university’. Tuesday morning
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philmyhead and bellaberri added Marlena Shaw to their libraries. Monday morning
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SpookyMorto tagged Marlena Shaw with funk, jazz and soul. Sunday afternoon
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ok91 tagged Marlena Shaw with jazz, funk, female vocalists and one other tag. Saturday evening
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ok91, whasgood26, johnnymcjohn and 29 other people added Marlena Shaw to their libraries. Saturday evening
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KevBaz, JoanHenry666 and colorwerk added Marlena Shaw to their libraries. 19 days ago
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KevBaz tagged Marlena Shaw with funk and jazz. 19 days ago
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evsmitty tagged Marlena Shaw with ‘we funk radio’. 19 days ago
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LunatequeMadrid, happydogbilly, tagosaku1 and 7 other people added Marlena Shaw to their libraries. 21 days ago
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Groups (23)
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Phyllisians
55 members
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Soulful Music
121 members
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Soul & Funk Connection
1,351 members
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Jazzanova
953 members
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Funk Reggae and Soul
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