Artist:Shaun Martin
Song:Madiba
Album:7 Summers
Until his recent death at age 45, pianist Shaun Martin was best known as gospel artist Kirk Franklin's long time musical director. Both guys are from Dallas. He was also a member of the popular jazz fusion band Snarky Puppy. The 2015 album 7 Summers was one of three he recorded for the jazz label Ropeadope. He was born Aug. 23,1978 in Dallas. His mom started him on piano lessons at age four. He learned about gospel music in church. He attended Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. That's where he met Kirk Franklin. Franklin was already a choir director and Martin started working with him back then. Martin earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences at University of North Texas. He also co-wrote and played piano on a couple of songs from Erykah Badu's 2000 album Mama's Gun including the top ten hit Bag Lady. That was nominated for two Grammys. Martin was Franklin's musical director since the 90s including his 1997 breakthrough album God's Property. He has been nominated for several Grammy awards. He has also played on albums by Fred Hammond, Tamela Mann, James Fortune & FIYA and other gospel artists. Snarky Puppy leader Michael League must have seen Martin play somewhere because he joined them in 2010. The record deal with Ropeadope was something new for Martin. No doubt League encouraged that too. Martin wrote and produced most of the album including Madiba. The musicians are guys he works with at either Kirk Franklin or Snarky Puppy including Jason "Da Mayor" Davis on tenor sax, Alcedrick Todd on trumpet, Keith Taylor on bass, Robert "Sput" Searight on drums and Frank Moka on percussion. Michael League and members of Snarky Puppy appear on a couple of songs. This album is available as a digital download. Martin's latest album was released in 2020. Then Martin suffered a stroke in Apr. 2023 and died on Aug. 3, 2024 at age 45. Here's Shaun Martin performing Madiba in the recording studio 2015.
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