Her daughter, who announced the news in a video on Shaw’s official Facebook page, did not disclose her cause of death.
The legendary jazz and soul singer’s career began in 1952 with a performance at Harlem’s Apollo Theater, where she was invited onstage by her uncle, a jazz trumpet player. She went on to perform in jazz clubs nationwide, eventually signing with Chess Records in her early 20s.
Throughout her career, Shaw released a total of 17 albums across eight different record labels. Her most iconic song, “California Soul”—written by Ashford & Simpson and initially recorded by The Messengers—has been frequently sampled by other artists and featured in numerous commercials.
