Marlena Shaw says, “My Uncle Jimmy Burgess was a jazz trumpet player. My Grandmother and my Uncle basically raised me. He taught me how to structure chords on the piano in order for me to accompany him.”

I’ll retire when I no longer get calls for my services. I certainly have cut back on what I can accept these days

Her first public performance was at the age of ten, at the famous Apollo Theater, her voice joined big bands effortlessly such as Count Basie’s Orchestra, Frank Fosters Loud Minority Band, The Cologne Big Band and several others. Marlena Shaw was the first ever woman to sign on Blue Note Records, where she made five albums and a few singles.

Though, it wasn’t until she signed to Chess Records in 1966 that her real recording career start. Marlena Shaw reflects, “My first recordings were done for Cadet Records out of Chicago, Chess Records. While performing at the Chicago Playboy Club, Dick LaPalm signed me. As I recall, we were in a studio in a house, probably like the early Motown. I sang a song titled ‘Showtime’ or ‘It’s Showtime’. The flip side was ‘Go Away Little Boy’, without the monologue, so it never got up off the ground.”

Radio friendly singles like ‘California Soul’ were born, plus ‘Wade In The Water’ and ‘Mercy, Mercy, Mercy’. After that she recorded four more albums at Columbia Records, Verve and Concord soon followed.

Perhaps this was a rude question for me to ask, though I wanted to find out if she’d thought of retirement (in no way was it a suggestion!)

Marlena Shaw replied, “Matthew, I’m in my sixties and been singing for forty-two years or so. And I’ll retire when I no longer get calls for my services. I certainly have cut back on what I can accept these days.”

Marlena Shaw went from big band jazz voice to work with Ray Brown, Benny Carter and Joe Williams. She toured with Sammy Davis JR, and graced every major venue such as Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. At that time in her career, it was not unusual for Marlena Shaw to be on the road for over two hundred days a year. “While on tour in the UK with Nathan Haines as part of my backup band, he made a track called ‘Squire for Hire’ he asked me to write the words for a monologue to fit the track and that’s how I got involved with Lofty at Chilli Funk. I would love to do another project with them. Both Nathan and Lofty are simply the coolest. Nathan suggested me for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, which I toured with in ‘05. What a kick!”

In 2002, London’s Soul Brother Records released a Marlena Shaw Anthology album, and it featured two hit songs for Sony Japan Live In Tokyo, 2002 and Lookin For Love, 2003.

Once I begin singing, the fright usually goes away

She continues, “From the days of Carnaby Street to the funkier atmosphere of Camden and its markets..” Marlena Shaw speaks of her first visits to London. “As you may or may not know my first time in London was in 1968 with the Count Basie Band so I’ve worked for Princess Margaret to just regular folks and always have a good time. But no I don’t own any property there. Do you know of a good thing? I am quite a fan of London period.”

Marlena Shaw is also universally loved for her mix of spoken word and jazz. She has a natural warmth in her tone that invites the listener in like a friend. Wether Marlena Shaw is churning out gospel, pop, R&B, soul or jazz, her abilities to make each song her own, replaces genre and labels.

“Many years ago I had to meditate and stretch, drink soothing teas, etc. Now, I’m so blessed to wake up in the morning I say thank you Lord and get on up. As far as relaxing, I used to be the very best gardener and avid golfer, too many aches and pains and some days are better than others. Love soap operas and trying to design a new home.”

“Nothing much to talk about there yet, as far as the independents are concerned, they’re doing pretty darned good. The big boys are having some problems and we don’t chase them”, confesses Marlena Shaw.

Do you ever get stage fright, still? Marlena Shaw admits, “Being in front of large audiences scares me! Usually, for just a little while. Once I begin singing, the fright usually goes away. I do like working with people who have similar fan bases.”

“I love springtime. Seeing all the beginning buds on trees and plants gives me renewed hope in all things being new again”, says Marlena Shaw.

Lastly, this wonderful woman and artist says, “The best advice I ever had was from Count Basie, ‘Whatever music you’re singing never place the tempo faster than a heartbeat’. Over the years, I found that getting the right tempo depends on the feeling.”