RIP Marlena Shaw

[Guy]

Sad news. Marlena had just been on my mind. I have all of her recordings and she was a favorite. I've seen her live a few times. Almost 20 years ago, I saw her at a club in downtown Manhattan that served barbeque. It was a nice place but because of the setting -- more restaurant than music venue -- I didn't expect her to be turned on. She lit up the joint with her exuberance and she sounded wonderful. Among others, she did "Look at me, look at you" and "I think I'll tell him" which had not be mainstays in her latter day repertoire. I cannot remember the name of the venue. She told a funny story in an interview once -- Marlena has the distinction of being the first female vocalist signed to the Blue Note record label. It almost didn't hapoen, she was negotiating to join United Artists record but Shirley Bassey objected because, according to Marlena, she didn't want any other females at the label. So Capitol moved Marlena over to Blue Note.

I have many favorites but "Davy" is the one that gets me.