RIP, Marlena Shaw (22nd September 1942 – 19th January 2024):
[Read my tribute to the great lady on her 80th, and for the original version of this song.]
RIP, Pluto Shervington (13th August 1950 – 19th January 2024):
[Quite likely the first song that explicitly references marijuana to appear on Top of the Pops, or indeed on British telly as a whole!]
RIP, Mary Weiss of the Shangri-Las (28th December 1948 – 19th January 2024):
[See also here]The dancefloor in Fabulon is filling up.
A diva whose major contribution to the world of jazz and soul music appears to have been largely overlooked by the mainstream, the marvellously-talented Miss Marlena Shaw blows out 80 candles on her cake today!
Here are just two examples of the great lady's sublime talents - first, her tribute to the recently-departed-for-Fabulon songwriter Ramsey Lewis...
...and here is her most instantly-recognisable and classic number:
Many happy returns, Marlena Shaw (born Marlina Burgess, 22nd September 1942)
