Shaun Martin died on Saturday on the age of 45. Kirk Franklin Collaborator for 3 a long time.
Martin has been beneath fixed medical monitoring since struggling a extreme stroke in April 2023. ” and described him on the time as “my proper hand, my north star, my musical accomplice for over 25 years.
Martin can also be recognized for serving to write and produce Erykah Badu’s sophomore album Mama’s Gun, and as a member of Chaka Khan’s backing band, to not point out serving because the music pastor for one of many largest church buildings in Texas Position.
Badu is certainly one of many artists to lately announce a profit present for Martin in Dallas on September 14th, together with Robert Glasper, Norah Jones and extra individuals.
Martin’s work with Franklin received 4 Grammy Awards, within the classes of Finest Gospel Album and Modern R&B Gospel Album. Different on-line sources place his complete Grammy wins at seven, together with three received by Snarky Pet whereas he was a member.
Martin is especially well-known in his hometown. Dallas’ ABC tv affiliate WFAA described the musician as “some of the well-known musicians Dallas has ever produced.”
On Sunday, Martin’s spouse, Monica Wilson Martin, posted a message to his followers: “It’s with nice unhappiness that I share the passing of my husband, Harold Rashawn Martin. Information. The sunshine has dimmed in our residence since April 17, 2023. God has spoken and we should settle for His will. Thanks to our household and mates for his or her continued steadfastness. Love surrounds us. We ask that you simply maintain us in your prayers as we really feel this heartbreaking loss at residence, throughout DFW, and all over the world.
When Martin will not be out touring, he serves as minister of worship and music and band chief for Sunday providers at Friendship West Baptist Church in Oak Cliff, one of many largest church buildings within the nation.
Whereas Martin was a scholar at Booker T. Washington Excessive College for the Performing and Visible Arts in Texas, he turned a member of the group “God’s Property” together with gospel nice Franklin.
Badu and lots of of her fellow musicians considered Martin on the faculty. “Once I began working with Erykah, she had already launched Baduizm,” he recalled in a Forbes interview. “Myself, Braylon Lacy, Eugene Younger and Raphael Iglehart had been within the band on the similar time. It was cool as a result of I used to be nonetheless a school scholar commuting to highschool and recording courses. Erykah Badu is and at all times shall be, particularly in A celebrity in my eyes. However she’s in all probability one of many coolest, most down-to-earth individuals I’ve ever met, for a similar purpose. Commerce-off, as a result of I do know the star, however I am attending to know the true particular person, Erica Wright.
“A couple of yr later,” he continued, “[the single] “Ms. Bao” got here out. It was a journey from a music enterprise perspective as a result of I used to be 20 years previous and I hadn’t had the chance to be part of one thing as enormous as this. Now, God’s Property is a large success, particularly within the gospel world. It went on to promote two to 3 million data. I am a part of the group, however I am only a supporting character. However on Erykah’s album, I used to be capable of write and produce, so the enterprise modified. It taught me quite a bit.
His pursuits span a number of genres and he’s additionally the founding father of the Go-Go Band, the place he expresses his love for the Washington, D.C., go-go music scene.
He discovered frequent floor with a number of the completely different artists he performed with. “What’s fascinating between Kirk Franklin, Erykah Badu and Chaka is that the viewers is definitely the identical,” he informed Forbes. “I imply, lots of people who love gospel music additionally take heed to Chaka and Erykah. In order that half is cool. It makes the whole lot related. However there is a distinction within the outcomes, if you’ll. With Chaka, the whole lot is Erykah at all times needs to make you are feeling empowered and that is her fashion and once more, it is a magnet for the entire artwork. [school] Thought: “Go, be, do.” Go wherever you need, be whoever you need to be, do no matter you need to do. And Kirk’s thrust is and at all times shall be Jesus. It finally turns into religious power, within the identification of a Christian. Though these three outcomes are completely different, the essence is similar.
His solo albums embrace Focus and seven Summers, and he performs within the trio undertaking Three-O with Matthew Ramsey and Mike “Blaque Dynamite” Mitchell.
“One of many issues I nonetheless need to do is I hope to assist the Dallas music scene additional develop globally,” he informed Forbes. “There are a whole lot of proficient individuals in Dallas, Texas. Quite a lot of occasions, as a result of we’re from Dallas, we do get neglected. However there’s a whole lot of tremendous druggy individuals.
Snarky Pet paid tribute to Martin on Instagram. “Yesterday, we misplaced a music legend and extra importantly, a phenomenal, luminous human being,” the group posted. “Sean Martin touched many lives all through his life and thru The great thing about the music is immortal and he’ll proceed to take action, however phrases can not do it justice.
Followers chimed in with feedback like, “Sean’s ‘Factor of Gold’ key solo saved my life; I believe it is a very powerful solo in jazz historical past,” and “This organ solo was really my All causes to begin studying piano.
